Pune: Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad has received a proposal to restart Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus services on 20 routes in the city. PMPML Director and Corporator Shankar Pawar have submitted this proposal. These routes would be outside the peth areas, containment zones and 95 buses would ply on these routes only for four hours in morning and evening, the proposal states.
PMC has given relaxations in lockdown since June 1. Shops and parks have reopened in a phased manner. Air and railway services have also started. Auto and cab services have also been permitted to operate. Private and government offices have resumed operations and as result citizens have stepped out of their homes in large numbers. Presently, private vehicles are permitted on the road but those who don't have their own vehicle are dependent on public transport services. They are facing difficulties while commuting to offices and back home.
Pawar in his proposal states that PMP bus service can be resumed outside the peth areas and containment zones in a limited time slot. In the suburbs and on main roads, shuttle bus service can be started. Social distancing norms would be followed for starting these services and accordingly appropriate markings have been done inside the PMP buses.
The 20 routes include bus service from Swargate to Nigdi, Katraj, Dhankawadi, Bharti Vidyapeeth, Upper Indiranagar, Dhayari and Hadapsar; Pune Municipal Corporation to Lohgaon, Mhalunge, Balewadi, Pashan, Bavdhan, Chinchwadgaon, Malwadi, Kothrud; Pune Station to Hadapsar, Wagholi, Vishrantwadi, Kondhwa Khurd; Hadapsar to Kharadi bypass etc. The buses on these routes will be deployed from bus depots at Katraj, Swargate, Na.Ta.Wadi, Kothrud, Marketyward, Hadapsar, Pune Station and Balewadi. The frequency of these buses will be 15 to 20 minutes, Pawar has said in the proposal.
Pawar said, "We have submitted this proposal to Commissioner Gaikwad. We have also written to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar to start bus services between the two cities. If all vehicular traffic is being permitted in the city, then keeping PMP service close is not a wise decision. Citizens who don't own a private vehicle are inconvenienced due to this. Hence we have proposed to restart PMP service by following social distancing norms."
