Pune Public Transport

[s.yogendra]

Exclusive thread for Pune Public Transport discussions, news, photos & updates

[s.yogendra]

Other cities buy their quota of buses

PUNE: Many other cities chosen under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) have scored where Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations dithered and lost ground by not procuring all the sanctioned buses.

In Maharashtra, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)-BEST, MMR-Navi Mumbai, MMR-Mira Bhayandar, Nashik and Nanded have bought all the buses sanctioned. Nagpur has bought 240 of the 300 buses. Only MMR-Kalyan Dombivili has faulted by not buying any of its approved quota of 50 buses.

In Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati, Vijaywada and Vishakapatnam have bought all their buses, while Hyderabad has procured 939 buses of the total 1,000 sanctioned.

Both Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka have got the sanctioned 1,000 and 150 buses respectively. In Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai have achieved their targets.

Other cities that procured all their buses include Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Dehradun, Ajmer, Haridwar, Chandigarh, Panaji, Shimla, Jammu, Srinagar, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati.

The procrastination in buying the sanctioned 650 buses by both the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations has been attributed to the initial insistence by the authorities on air-conditioned vehicles, CNG buses as against diesel-run buses, and buses with doors opening on both sides to suit the Bus Rapid Transit System corridors in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

PMPML authorities have further delayed the procurement in the past one year as they debated the selection of the final prototype of buses. The utility's joint managing director Satish Kulkarni said the prototype of the buses to be delivered by a company had not been approved by the Automotive Research Association of India.

The approval came recently and 200 such buses are to be purchased, Kulkarni said. "The delivery of diesel buses is fast as against CNG buses. Since PMPML has chosen CNG buses, the delivery is taking time," he said.

At a review meeting held by the urban development department this March, the second detailed project report submitted by the state government was studied. It was stated that the city had received 150 buses and the remaining buses shall be received by April 2011.

The minutes of the meeting indicate how the bus purchase was delayed in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The approval to buy 650 buses came in February 2009 and in May the PMPML requested a change in the category of buses and fuel. This was approved by the government.

Later, PMPML submitted another proposal stating that the BRTS would need a semi low-floor bus and dual side doors and requested upgradation of fuel standards from Euro III to Euro IV. This was approved in March 2010.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10012346.cms

[s.yogendra]

PMPML delays buying of buses again, makes travel weary

PUNE: Two uncomfortable features of commuting in the city-packed buses and congested roads -- could have been less taxing if all the 650 buses sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission in February 2009 had been bought on time.

While the deadlines to buy these buses by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) was deferred many times in the last two and half years, the authorities have now set January 2012 as the date for buying the remaining buses.

The purchase has been delayed for several reasons, including the controversy over buses with doors opening on both sides,

Meanwhile, in the absence of adequate buses, commuters are forced to travel in overcrowded vehicles, which have poor frequency and services. Jugal Rathi, convenor of the PMP Pravasi Sangh, said, "People risk their lives by hanging out of moving, overcrowded buses."

PMPML's joint managing director Satish Kulkarni is confident that the services would improve in the next few months once the fleet goes beyond 1,900.

"There has been a delay, but we are trying to procure the buses before the scheduled delivery time. The PCMC's remaining 75 buses are expected by November while the PMC's buses will come by January," he said.

Under the funding programme, the central government's share is 50%, the state government chips in with 20% while the municipal corporation gives 30%. As of now, only 295 buses have been procured by both civic bodies, not even half the quota required to ensure efficiency.

Of the 650 buses, sanctioned by the Union urban development department, 500 are for Pune city and 150 are for Pimpri-Chinchwad. While the Pune Municipal Corporation has bought 220 buses, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has procured 75 of its sanctioned buses which are part of the PMPML fleet.

The remaining 280 buses for Pune can be expected by January 2012 while the 75 buses for Pimpri-Chinchwad may be delivered by this November.

Passengers travelling by PMPML buses have increased as students have availed of daily and monthly passes. According to Rathi, nearly 11 lakh commuters travel by PMPML buses every day and services must be improved. "Commuters will react if the authorities test their patience," he said.

Sujit Patwardhan, one of the founder members of Parisar, working for sustainable transport in the city, said the city requires adequate buses.

"Every year, the PMPML should have purchased 200 to 250 buses to cater to the increasing population and to replace old buses. There are not enough depots to park the buses and other facilities are lacking. But this should not stop the authorities from procuring buses as commuters are hit by inadequate services," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10012337.cms

[s.yogendra]

'Use modern techniques to maintain cleanliness at station'

PUNE: Central railway manager Kul Bhushan, who made a surprise visit to the Pune railway station on Sunday, inspected the passenger amenities and other facilities at the station. Bhushan directed the authorities to use modern techniques to maintain cleanliness at the station.

He also directed the authorities to make improvements in the parking facilities at the entrance. He visited the circulating area, parcel office, booking office, foot-over bridge, and linen room. Bhushan also conducted a meeting with the officials about making repairs to the station building and creating a new terminus for suburban local trains. He said that the city was an important education hub and more improvements would be carried out at the railway station. The railways have been working continuously to provide safe and comfortable transport facilities to passengers, he said.

Divisional railway manager of Pune Vishal Agarwal additional divisional railway manager A K Gupta were present, among others.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10046058.cms

[Theta1]

Man I remember when Pune was just a little village, wow.

[Marathaman]

You remember Pune in the 16th century?

[Euromast]

i miss Vaishali resturant in Pune

[s.yogendra]

Website on RTO-registered vehicles soon

PUNE: Information about all vehicles registered with various regional transport offices in the state will soon be posted on a website. The National Informatics Centre has begun the work on the project.

City MLC Mohan Joshi said that he has received a written reply from the state minister for transport, Gulabrao Devkar, regarding the project. Online information about the registered vehicles will be made available from the month of January next year, Joshi said. The information about a registered vehicle will include the name of the owner, his address and the details of the type of vehicle, he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10150431.cms

[s.yogendra]

PMPML online bus guide off-track

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has an online bus guide but commuters and city activists say it’s off-track as most route details are not available and it has not been updated for long.

PMPML staff say there have been no updates in the last three months as they had been waiting for new buses, whose procurement has been delayed. New buses would have meant massive route changes. Senior officials claim timetables will be printed in a few days but city activists are skeptical and say “a few days” is the stock reply of the transport utility.

Deepak Pardeshi, spokesperson, PMPML, said, “We were waiting for new buses to be introduced, which would lead to massive changes in routes. So the website was not updated in three months. Now that there seems to be a delay in introduction of new buses, in the last 15 days we have been working on updating the website. The changes will be visible soon.” Commuter complaints include non-availability of starting and ending stations in a large number of routes. On some routes like Route 28-Bharati Vidyapeeth-University of Pune, no evening timings are available on the website, while on some routes like Route 85E, Kothrud Stand-Ahiregao, the only information given is that services start at 6.30am.

[s.yogendra]

PMPML skipped 1,71,864 runs, lost crores in over 3 years

A Staggering 1,71,864 runs could not be made by buses buses of PMPML, the city's transport service, in the last three-and-and-half-years reveals an RTI query filed by The Indian Express with the transport body. These were due to 27,000 breakdowns in the same period.

The highest loss was by PMPML's Swargate bus depot, with an astounding loss of as many as 1,31,796 trips since January 2008 when PMPML came into existence. The Katraj bus depot was second with a loss of 22,486 runs. The Nigdi and Market Yard bus depots recorded 7,490 and 7,527 loss of trips. The Nehrunagar bus depot lost 1,786 trips while Bhosari depot lost 779, the RTI reply stated.

Everyday, PMPML runs 1,250 buses and earns around Rs 1 crore from ticket sales. Each bus is supposed to make eight runs in two shifts every day. Officials said 1,250 buses make around 12,000 trips every day. In the RTI reply, PMPML refused to provide the loss in terms of revenue. "If PMPML buses could not make 1,71,864 trips in three-and-a-half year, it means PMPML has lost around Rs 15 crore. This money could have helped PMPML buy at least 40-50 buses," says Prashant Inamdar, convenor of Pedestrians First which has been frequently interacting with PMPML officials to reduce breakdown rates.

[s.yogendra]

Spare parts shortage: PMPML loses Rs 3 crore every month

With as many as 125 PMPML buses remaining off the roads daily due to non-availability of some spare parts, the transport utility is losing Rs 3 crore every month, revealed an RTI query filed by The Indian Express.

PMPML chief engineer Sunil Burse said every month nearly 3,750 buses will not be used. The PMPML runs 1,250 buses every day, earning around Rs 1 crore daily. Officials said if 3,750 buses run every month, PMPML could earn Rs 3 crore. “In three and half years, PMPML has lost around Rs 100 crore,” said PMP Pravasi Manch convener Jugal Rathi.

PMPML board member Yogesh Behl, who is also Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor, said the losses revealed by RTI reply were indeed a matter of grave concern. “If so many buses remain off the roads, commuters are bound to suffer. I will discuss the matter with PMPML chairman and managing director and find out steps to streamline the services,” Behl said.

[s.yogendra]

3-member team to decide on PMC bus purchase plan

A Three-member committee of municipal commissioners of Pune and the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations and chairman and managing director of the PMPML will take a decision on purchasing 100 buses under JNNURM. The team is expected to take a decision whether to purchase buses with doors on both sides or only on the left side.

The decision was taken at the general body meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation. This was after the PMPML board in the morning left it to the PMC to take the decision about purchase of the 100 buses of the 650 decided earlier. Mayor Mohan Rajpal Singh said in the interest of the Puneites, the PMC has decided to make early purchases of the buses and settle the issue.

read full article

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...e-plan/865132/

[s.yogendra]

Pune’s crying need for mass transport system

Efforts for the Pune metro project are being made since 2006, but the proposal is yet to be approved by the government. Pune had taken the lead in launching the BRTS (bus rapid transit system) in December 2006, but today, it is the BRTS in Ahmedabad which is in the forefront. Speak Up finds out how lack of proper mode of transport is making the common man suffer

Metro rail project has got the approval of PMC general body, state govt too is on board
A mass transport system like the metro rail project for Pune is a massive infrastructure project that requires huge financial investment and proper planning. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has raised the issue with the state government. The project has got the approval of the PMC general body and there are still certain procedures, which needs to be followed. The state government too has given a principal approval. Once it is ratified by the state, it will go to the Central government.

read full article

[cncity]

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will construct part of a road at a cost of Rs 38.65 lakh to provide connectivity to the international cricket stadium coming up at Gahunje.The Maharashtra Cricket Association is developing the stadium. The first phase of construction, costing Rs 300 crore, is in progress.

It will have a seating capacity of 55,000. This stadium is located at Gahunje off the Pune-Mumbai expressway. But there is no proper approach road that connects the expressway and the stadium.While the municipal corporation will construct the 800-metre stretch coming in the municipal limits, a final decision is yet to be taken on who would construct the remaining stretch of about 1.5 km. A civic official said that the 1.5 km stretch would be constructed either by the zilla parishad or by the stadium authorities.

Civic officials said that the 800-metre stretch will start from an underpass of the expressway near Kiwale. The road will run parallel to the expressway. Officials said that the proposed road will be 18 m wide.Land acquisition for 300 metre has been completed. PCMC officials are hopeful that land acquisition process for the remaining 500 metre willl be completed soon. Construction of the road will be completed in six months, the officials said.The PCMC will also construct a 12-metre wide road along the railway over bridge (ROB) in Pimpri at a cost of Rs 35.99 lakh.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10761157.cms

[Deb_S]

New Delhi: The environment- and commuter-friendly metro rail will soon run in Indian cities having a population of more than 2 million with the government approving the ambitious project, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath announced Thursday.

"We will be looking at the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for metro rails in the cities which have a population of more than 2 million," Kamal Nath said at a press conference here.

The DPRs are prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and submitted to the other states.

"While respective DPRs have been prepared for Pune, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, the preparation of reports for Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh is in process," Kamal Nath told reporters.

The minister also said that the ministry is in talks with the Maharashtra government for getting a DPR for metro in Nagpur.

Source

[megacity30]

Originally Posted by Deb_S

New Delhi: The environment- and commuter-friendly metro rail will soon run in Indian cities having a population of more than 2 million with the government approving the ambitious project, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath announced Thursday.

"We will be looking at the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for metro rails in the cities which have a population of more than 2 million," Kamal Nath said at a press conference here.

The DPRs are prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and submitted to the other states.

"While respective DPRs have been prepared for Pune, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, the preparation of reports for Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh is in process," Kamal Nath told reporters.

The minister also said that the ministry is in talks with the Maharashtra government for getting a DPR for metro in Nagpur.

Source

When did the population of Ludhiana and Chandigarh cross 2 million people?!!

How about the other 2 million-plus cities in India not mentioned here, such as Surat, Jaipur, Kanpur and Patna?

[rathibent]

Originally Posted by megacity30

When did the population of Ludhiana and Chandigarh cross 2 million people?!!

How about the other 2 million-plus cities in India not mentioned here, such as Surat, Jaipur, Kanpur and Patna?

Hehe...punjab elections around the corner:-)

[cncity]

Central Railway plans to build elevated bus depot on city station premises on the lines of Thane and Mumbai


The Central Railway (CR) plans a major infrastructural revamp of Pune railway station in lieu of the ever-increasing rail traffic and influx of passengers. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference, CR General Manager (GM) S K Jain said that they plan to build elevated platforms for buses plying from the depot, which will have connecting skywalks and foot over Bridges (F0Bs), on the lines of bus depots in Thane and Andheri (Mumbai).




Welcome project: The Central Railway plans to work in collaboration
with the PMC and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation to
implement the project. Representation Pic


"We are trying to coordinate with local bodies like the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for the project," he said. The plan includes ramps for buses to climb and descend from the elevated decks and an auto stand right below. Effectively, the auto stand will come in the place of the Pune station bus depot, which currently has a stand on Maldhakka Road, infamous for traffic snarls.


Jain, who assumed office a fortnight ago, was on an official tour of all major stations under CR's jurisdiction. An important announcement made by Jain was about extending platform No. 6 on the stations to accommodate 32 coach trains.


Plan approved
"The project has already been approved and will be completed by March next year. About 187 trains ply from Pune everyday and the traffic has reached a saturation point. We are logging the daily train movements and other important statistics to mitigate the congestion and augment services," said Jain.


Talking about the revamp plan, Jain said that in other cities like Thane and Mumbai, the CR was coordinating with agencies such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and completed several RoBs and other infrastructure.


"Such coordination has been lacking in Pune. We are work in close collaboration with these local bodies. The only way to reduce congestion is to go elevated like we did in Thane and Andheri in Mumbai. We are planning to build the bus depot on the parcel depot at the fag end of the first platform," he said.


Jain also added that around 56,000 railway vacancies were also approved to be filled in a recent meeting with Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi," he added.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/dec...t-facelift.htm

[Deb_S]

PUNE: In an encouraging and inspiring news at the very beginning of the year, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), always facing criticism for its poor performance, has been conferred two awards by the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU).

The ASRTU aims to bring together all state road transport undertakings on a common platform with the aim of pooling their resources and knowhow for dealing with various problems faced by them and help them improve their performance. The ASRTU has 58 members, who constitute the backbone of mobility for the urban and rural population, across the country.

The two awards the PMPML has received include the award for 'maximum improvement in tyre performance', and for 'maximum improvement in vehicle productivity.'

The award presentation ceremony will be held in New Delhi on January 9.

The transport company's achievement in tyre performance means that the requirement for new tyres per lakh km has reduced from 5.12 to 4.43. Similarly, the PMPML improved the vehicle productivity from 164.55 km per day to 170.92 km per day.

Officials of the PMPML said the announcement of the awards has created an atmosphere of joy among the staff and workers. The awards have come at a time when the transport company is going through a very adverse situation, the officials added.

Just a few weeks back, the PMPML was rapped by the traffic police branch for running badly maintained buses because of which the buses had frequent breakdowns. It had issued a warning to the PMPML that it would take action against the drivers for driving badly-maintained buses. The frequent breakdowns of buses on main roads and on crowded streets create major traffic congestions. In the last one-and-half months, nearly 51 buses had breakdown at crowded junctions, thus causing major traffic jams in the city, the traffic police had said. Traffic officials had said that in most cases, the wheels are jammed. The buses are so heavy that it requires a crane to lift it away from the crowded roads. Traffic movement is thus affected for hours.

In response to frequent breakdown of buses, chief engineer of the transport company, Sunil Burse had said that the buses have to run on first and second gear, which cause problems in the engine and that there are chances of failures.

Source

[Indtrans]

On following new routes buses are required:
1. Nigdi-Dapodi-Khadki Bazar-Yerwada-Vadgaon Sheri.
2.Katraj-Suncity-Chandni Chowk-Hinjewadi.