Pune, known for its vibrant culture and rapid urbanization, relies heavily on its public transportation system. However, recent data reveals a disconcerting trend as the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) reports a significant increase in bus breakdowns. In August, the transport authority recorded a staggering 30% rise in breakdown incidents compared to the previous month, casting a shadow over the city’s commuting experience.
Official figures indicate that a total of 1,661 breakdowns were reported in August, up from 1,283 breakdowns in July this year. Delving deeper into the statistics, it becomes evident that a significant portion of these breakdowns involves buses owned by contractors rather than those directly operated by PMPML.
Out of the total breakdowns in August, 1,073 occurred with buses owned by contractors, while 588 involved PMPML-owned buses. This trend seems consistent with previous months, with contractor-owned buses consistently reporting a higher number of breakdowns compared to their PMPML counterparts.
PMPML has implemented various measures in the past to mitigate breakdown incidents, but the impact on contractor-owned buses appears to be minimal. In response to this issue, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) instructed officials to oversee the maintenance of contractor-owned buses. A dedicated squad was deployed to monitor the maintenance depots of contractors, ensuring that these buses adhere to the same maintenance standards applied to PMPML-owned vehicles.
Digging deeper into the data, it’s evident that May witnessed the highest number of breakdowns this year, with 1,173 incidents involving contractor-owned buses and 728 involving PMPML-owned buses. Since April, breakdown incidents have consistently remained above the 1,500 mark, except for July.
This surge in bus breakdowns poses challenges for PMPML as it strives to provide efficient and reliable public transportation services to Pune’s residents. As the authorities continue their efforts to address this issue, commuters are left hoping for more dependable and hassle-free journeys through the city.
