PMPML to Add 400 CNG Buses to Its Fleet Next Month, 200 More Expected by June

Ziya Khan 1 day ago

17 1 minute read

Passengers traveling within Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will soon experience safer and more comfortable journeys. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has announced plans to acquire 600 pollution-free CNG buses. Of these, 400 will be added to the fleet in April, with the remaining 200 self-owned buses slated for induction by the end of June, according to PMPML officials.The PMPML provides vital passenger services across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the PMRDA area. However, over 250 buses have been retired due to the expiration of their lifespan, resulting in a reduction of the fleet size.

Currently, the fleet consists of just 1,654 buses, with several self-owned buses continuing to operate out of necessity, despite being over 12 years old. This decline has impacted service availability on various routes.To combat this issue, the PMPML board of directors approved the procurement of 200 self-owned buses and 400 public-private partnership (PPP) buses in a meeting held last October.Deepa Mudhol Munde, the PMPML Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), stated, *“The lifespan of many self-owned and contractor-operated buses has expired, with some in service for over 12 years.

We have initiated the process to introduce new buses. Over the next three months, 600 eco-friendly, air-conditioned CNG buses will join our fleet, starting with *400 PPP buses arriving next month.”The procurement process for the 400 CNG buses under the PPP model has recently been completed, while the final stages of acquiring the 200 self-owned buses are underway. Although these new buses are set to be integrated into the fleet by June, they are expected to start arriving in the coming year. Meanwhile, the 327 buses that have reached the end of their operational lifespan are being gradually phased out, as confirmed by PMPML authorities. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us.