Transport activist accuses PMPML of fleecing passengers

If the allegations levelled by the Convener of PMPL Pravasi Manch Jugal Rathi are to be believed, then the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) have cheated commuters to the tune of Rs 3 crore till date.

He claimed that the public transport utility was overcharging passengers travelling within the PMC limits on almost 70 routes, resulting in commuters paying different fares for the same routes.

Cheated? A commuter, who recently travelled from SNDT to Deccan bus stop on a Ghotawade-bound bus, was amazed by the fact that he had to pay different fares for travelling on the same route. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

Rathi said despite bringing the issue to the notice of the PMPML authorities a few days back, no action has been taken. The PMPML increased its fares in February. Its officials said commuters travelling outside limits of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation would have to pay an extra rupee.

A commuter, who recently travelled from SNDT to Deccan bus stop on a Ghotawade-bound bus, was amazed by the fact that he had to pay different fares for travelling on the same route.

Explaining the additional charges and how they are applied, Rathi said, "The PMPML operates 70 routes outside corporation's limits. About three to four lakh commuters, including school students and senior citizens, travel on these routes. Out of this nearly half of them travel short-distances within corporation's limits. Charging extra one rupee from these commuters' daily amounts to a fraud of almost Rs 3 crore till date. Besides, cheating its regular customers, the PMPML is also violating the Regional Transport Authorities (RTA) mandate as far as fares are concerned."

What PMPML can do
The authorities can modify the functioning of the ticketing machines. Only those passengers boarding buses from stands located outside municipal corporation's limits be charged extra.

Beware of these routes
Hinjewadi, Nasrapur, Aglambe, Ghotawade, Uruli Kanchan, Mhatoba Alandi, Prayagdham, Alandi, Sanaswadi, Sinhgad, Khanapur, Paud, Sangrun, Ahiregaon, Talegaon Dabhade, Talegaon Dhamdhere, Pabal, Keshnand, Theur, Manjari, Uruli Devachi, Markal, Bahulgaon, Kondhanpur, Khed Shivapur,
Dehu road, Shirgaon and Chakan, among others.

The other side
PMPML Public Relations Officer Deepak Pardeshi said "This kind of fare structure is also being implemented in cities like Mumbai and Bangalore. If passengers cant afford the higher fares they should board buses on routes with lower fares."u00a0