Pune: In a bid to enhance the commuting experience for passengers in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and surrounding districts, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMP) has unveiled plans to set up around 300 covered bus stops in the first phase of its ambitious project. The PMP administration has successfully completed the tender process for this initiative, and the work is set to commence shortly.
With over 11 lakh passengers relying on the PMP’s extensive bus network daily, covering more than 375 routes with approximately 2000 buses, ensuring comfortable and convenient travel options becomes a priority for the transport authorities. Currently, there are around five thousand bus stops spread across the city, district, and Pimpri Chinchwad, out of which only 1130 have protective coverings.
The upcoming project seeks to bridge this gap, as 300 new covered bus stops will be constructed on a ‘build-operate-transfer’ (BOT) basis. Under this arrangement, the responsible contractor will finance the construction and, in return, will have the opportunity to advertise on these structures. The PMP has entered into a 15-year agreement to facilitate this mutually beneficial partnership.
In the initial phase, the construction of 50 covered bus stops will be completed within a short span of 90 days, providing immediate relief to commuters during inclement weather.
