Bus conductors now give back change, says PMPML
Pune: Gone are the days when Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus conductors did not return spare change to passengers, claiming they do not have coins in smaller denominations.
PMPML claimed that since September, they have not received any complaints about conductors who do not return change like Re 1, Rs 2 or Rs 3.
“The conductors are now returning the change to passengers. They cannot keep it with themselves. In August, we received about 12 complaints of conductors pocketing the change and not returning it to passengers. But from September onwards, we have not received any complaints regarding this,” said Tukaram Mundhe, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), PMPML.
“When we received complaints from passengers that conductors are not returning change, they would be suspended. I have fixed the priority to provide facilities to our commuters and this is one of them,” said Mundhe.
Commuters would complain that on several occasions, they forgot to collect the balance Re 1, Rs 2 or Rs 5, which went to the PMPML coffers. On the other hand, conductors always have an excuse, saying they too were helpless as PMPML did not provide them loose change.
PMPML has launched a project, which involves installation of GPS tracking system in all e-ticketing machines across all depots. The project will help monitor the sale of tickets on a daily basis, along with tracking the buses running on the respective routes. Each depot will have a control room via which the manager concerned will be able to keep a vigil on the sale of tickets and the amount collected by conductors.
Reserved seats for women
Mundhe has instructed all conductors to let only women sit on seats reserved for them. “There have been several complaints from women passengers, that they are not getting seats which are reserved for them, as the male passengers take those seats. A clear message has been given to all conductors, not to let any male passengers sit on women's reserved seat,” said Mundhe.
