Pune: 85% Of PMPML Bus Stops Without Shelters, Commuters Endure Scorching Heat | FPJ Photo
Commuters rely heavily on Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses for travel. However, it has come to light that over 85 per cent of the PMPML bus stops lack shelters, leaving passengers to endure the scorching heat.
As per the information received, the PMPML has over 9,000 bus stops in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and rural areas, but only 15 per cent of them are equipped with shelters.
With the rising temperatures, thousands of commuters, including students, women and senior citizens, are forced to wait for buses without any protection from the intense heat.
Ganesh Gorakh Bahir, a medical student, said, “The condition of the bus shelters is very bad. Illegal posters are pasted on these seats, which make it unpleasant to sit. Besides, vehicles are parked in front of them haphazardly which adds to the inconvenience.”
Aniket Surwase, another commuter, expressed, “The shelters in Raviwar Peth and Shukrawar Peth are in a bad condition. People dump their garbage there, and at some places, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made it as a garbage collection point.”
Meanwhile, speaking exclusively with The Free Press Journal, Nitin Narvekar, Joint Managing Director, PMPML, said that 400 new bus shelters will be constructed.
“A contract for installing 400 new bus shelters has been sanctioned and the work is in process. These new bus shelters will be made entirely of stainless steel and will have proper seating arrangements and shade. Each will cost around ₹3-4 lakh. We have partnered with different advertisement agencies for this project, and in return, PMPML will allow them to display advertisements on these stops for five years,” said Narvekar.
“Additionally, the PMPML is planning to renovate the existing bus shelters across the city, but tenders for this have not been approved yet,” he added.
