Pune: Due to loss in revenue due to the coronavirus lockdown, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) administration has asked officers and employees to give their two days and one day salary to the department respectively.
Also, the department will give priority to only permanent employees, and no other outsource work will be taken. The decision has been taken after a meeting held with the Chairman and Managing Director with officers and depot managers. It was also decided to close seven depots out of 13 and merged them into four significant depots due to the loss of revenue in the lockdown period.
The PMPML earned an average Rs 1.5 crore every day before the lockdown. Now the department is earning only Rs 1.50 lakh every day as only 120 buses have been running on the 50 routes, which come under essential services. However, providing services for crucial services the transport department spends Rs 8-10 lakh per day to maintain buses.
“Considering the current situations, including revenue and service, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Nayana Gunde held a meeting on May 4 with all heads of the department. During the meeting, it was discussed about the expenses and low revenue which also include salaries of employees. On May 5, CMD held a meeting with depot managers. In both the meetings, instructions were given regarding income growth and cost-saving,” said PMPML Traffic Manager Anant Waghmare.
Apart from these, all allowances and overtime allowances are cancelled, the officers are instructed to pay their two-day salary and employees to pay their one day salary to PMPML. Also, the private wardens and security guards deputed at BRTs route will not be on service, and all outsource work will be stopped.
According to Waghmare, “Seven depots including Marketyared, Bhekrainagar, Shewalwadi, Pune station, Balewadi, Nigdi and Bhosari depots will be merged into four depots including Swargate, Hadapsar, NT Wadi and Pimpri. However, there are no changes in two depots which are Kothrud and Katraj, as they are working continuously since the lockdown period.”
However, the decision has also made that to give priority to permanent employees instead of contractual workers. It also helps the administration to save money. As per information provided by the sources around 350 contractual workers are working with PMPML. These workers were earning income daily.
