Pune: An Right To Information (RTI) application has revealed that Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is providing drinking water, sanitation, seating arrangement, schedule of buses, etc, for daily commuters at only 16 out of the over 75 bus stations in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad area.
The RTI was filed by PMP Pravasi Manch activist Rupesh Kesekar to know about facilities like drinking water, sanitation, bus schedules, first-aid box, restrooms for employees and fire fighting equipment provided for commuters.
The copy of RTI application and also the response sent by PMPML administration is available with Sakal Times. Around 11 lakh commuters travel daily by PMPML. Rupesh Kesekar said, “Thousands of passengers take the bus from PMC bus station. There are not even facilities of providing of bus schedules and drinking water. For example, if a passenger wants to go to Chakan from PMC, there is no schedule mentioned.
Similarly, the passengers don’t know when the bus will depart from Swargate to Hinjawadi. The question is whom should they ask about the bus timings. There are no facilities of drinking water at the PMC bus station. The passengers are forced to pay to the hawkers to drink ‘Nimbu-Paani’.” “Similar problems are faced by the PMPML drivers and conductors. They continue to work for more than 12 hours and don’t even have toilet facility. The women staff are facing a huge problem,” Kesekar said.
“Every year, Rs 700 crore revenue is generated by PMPML and where does the authority spend this money,” he questioned.
