Pune's Public Transport Set for Modest Boost with 600-700 New Buses by April
Pune's public transport system is gearing up for a significant but limited upgrade. Officials from Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) confirm the arrival of 600 to 700 new buses by the end of April this year. This number falls far short of the ambitious 2,500 buses promised by city MP Murlidhar Mohol just last week.
Realistic Expectations Versus Political Promises
A senior PMPML official clarified the situation while speaking to TOI. "While it is true that 2,500 buses are in the pipeline, the entire lot will not arrive so soon," the official stated. PMPML's public relations officer, Kishor Chauhan, provided further details. He explained that out of the promised 2,500 vehicles, 1,000 are part of the central government's PM E-Drive scheme.
"The tenders for these have only just been floated by the Centre, and they will take considerable time to arrive," Chauhan said. "What we can realistically expect are 160 e-buses, which should arrive by February or March."
Immediate Additions to the Fleet
The transport body has also placed orders for 1,000 self-owned CNG buses with Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland. Chauhan highlighted that approximately 600 of these buses, manufactured by Ashok Leyland, should enter service by late April or May. "This will significantly boost fleet size and help commuters," he added.
Mohol, who also serves as the minister of state for civil aviation, had earlier claimed that the new buses would expand PMPML's fleet to around 4,000 vehicles. He also promised an increase of 100 new routes. Currently, PMPML operates a total fleet of 1,988 buses. Roughly 1,600 to 1,700 of these run daily across 394 routes.
Current Fleet Challenges and Commuter Concerns
In 2025, PMPML added 400 CNG buses, but all operated on a contract basis. Of the existing 1,988 buses, only 701 are owned by PMPML itself. The remaining 1,287 buses come from 11 different contractors. This reliance on contract buses poses significant problems for daily commuters.
Pramesh Dande, a regular passenger, voiced a common complaint. "Contract buses currently face the highest number of breakdowns, which is a major hassle for commuters," he said. Dande expressed frustration over the monitoring of these services. "Despite claims of oversight, monitoring seems inadequate. PMPML should have prioritised owning its fleet by now."
Activists Question Feasibility of Large-Scale Promise
Civic activists have labeled the promise of 2,500 buses as an "ambitious" campaign pledge. Sanjay Shitole of the PMP Pravasi Manch pointed out that logistical hurdles are often underestimated. "Securing 2,500 buses in the next three to four months is an impossible task unless there is an unprecedented push from the state government," Shitole remarked.
He also referenced past delays. "Furthermore, a previous order for 650 e-buses saw only 490 delivered, with the rest pending for over a year." Shitole raised a critical infrastructure issue. "PMPML currently lacks the required depot infrastructure to house and maintain such a massive influx of vehicles."
The coming months will reveal whether the promised fleet expansion can meet the growing demands of Pune's commuters or if logistical and infrastructural challenges will continue to hinder progress.
