PMPML MERGES PROJECTS, GETS MIDI BUSES FOR WOMEN
Pune Mirror | Updated: Mar 12, 2018, 02.30 AM IST
30 small buses roped in for Tejaswini initiative as Peth residents await transport on their routes
On International Women’s Day, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) introduced 30 midi ‘Tejaswini’ buses, exclusively for women on eight routes. Initially, the midi buses and the Tejaswini buses were supposed to be different projects, which were merged due to unavailability of funds.
While the compact midi buses were supposed to ply in peth areas given their feasibility on smaller roads, the Tejaswini buses were supposed to be regularsized exclusive service for women. PMPML’s former chief, Tukaram Mundhe’s efforts to tender Tejaswini buses did not meet with response twice.
Currently, the PMPML has 30 Tejaswini buses in their possession, which were plied on the road from March 8. Nayana Gunde, PMPML chief, said, “We had demanded 200 midi buses from the government out of which we have received 30. At the moment, a lot of women subscribe to PMPML services and we felt that their security must be prioritised. So on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, we started the Tejaswini buses. We will start another batch of midi buses in the next 3-4 months on the congested routes.”
Even though the initiative was much appreciated across the city, there remain a few passengers who felt that the midi buses should have been used for the smaller routes only.
Rupesh Kesekar, a resident of Guruwar Peth, said, “I have to walk at least one or one-and-a-half kilometres to catch a bus, or walk to the Swargate depot. We were waiting for the midi buses to start so that smaller routes. I was following these announcements, when suddenly one day the midi buses were taken out, but on the already existing routes. Now, there is no further commitment on starting these buses on narrow roads.”
Another regular passenger from Narayan Peth, Nilkant Mandhere, while emphasising that the women’s security is a priority, said that the PMPML should not ignore the inner city roads. “The PMPML should study the congestion on roads and the number of passengers for every route and then decide whether a midi bus is required,” he said.
The demand to get the midi buses is being discussed and debated since 2016. The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) standing committee had given approval to this procurement in September 2016. However, two years later, the project seems to be half-realised.
Sanjay Shitole, member of the PMP Pravasi Sangh, said, “The PMPML has finally started the Tejaswini buses, but the midi buses are meant to serve a different purpose. Tejaswini, which has been started on eight routes, should be started on most of the routes in Pune, especially the longer ones and primarily in the regular-sized buses.”
Source : Pune Mirror
