Pune: 400 CNG Buses to Join PMPML Fleet in April, 200 More by June
PUNE: Commuters in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) area can soon expect a more comfortable and eco-friendly travel experience. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is set to induct 600 CNG buses into its fleet, with 400 buses arriving in April and the remaining 200 self-owned buses by the end of June, according to PMPML officials.
Currently, PMPML operates across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the PMRDA region, but its fleet has shrunk due to aging vehicles. Over 250 buses have already been removed after exceeding their lifespan, and many self-owned buses over 12 years old continue to run out of necessity. As a result, the PMPML fleet has reduced to 1,654 buses, impacting services on several routes.
To address this situation, PMPML’s board of directors approved the procurement of 600 new CNG buses, including 400 under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and 200 as self-owned buses, in a meeting held last October. PMPML Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Deepa Mudhol Munde confirmed that the process for acquiring these buses is in progress.
“The lifespan of several self-owned and contractor-operated buses has expired, and many of them have been in service for over 12 years. The process to bring in new buses has already begun. In the next three months, 600 eco-friendly, air-conditioned CNG buses will join the fleet, with 400 PPP buses arriving next month,” said Munde.
While the procurement of 400 PPP buses has been completed, the final stage of acquiring 200 self-owned buses is underway. These new buses are expected to improve service efficiency and reduce pollution. Meanwhile, PMPML is gradually phasing out 327 buses that have reached the end of their operational life.
