Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has revealed that over ₹1.25 crore has been collected in fines from ticketless passengers over the past year.
With daily ridership of 11-12 lakh passengers across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and PMRDA limits, the public transport authority is ramping up efforts to curb ticketless travel.
Random Inspections Yield Results
PMPML has deployed 350 ticket inspectors to conduct random inspections on its 379 routes. These teams catch an average of 60-70 offenders daily, resulting in fines of ₹500 per violator. Monthly, the number of ticketless passengers identified ranges between 1,500 and 2,000.
Ticket Evasion Despite Affordable Fares
Despite affordable fares ranging from ₹10-₹15 for short distances and ₹40-₹60 for long distances, some passengers avoid purchasing tickets, particularly in crowded buses. College students form a significant percentage of these offenders.
Revenue and Measures
PMPML generates ₹1.5-₹2 crore daily in revenue from ticket sales. However, with the reduced number of buses causing crowding, incidents of ticketless travel have increased. To counter this, inspectors equipped with private vehicles ensure surprise checks and penalize offenders.
Annual Recovery and Awareness
Over the past year, PMPML recovered fines totaling ₹1.25 crore from ticketless passengers. PMPML continues to urge passengers to comply with ticketing rules to avoid penalties and ensure smooth operations.
Besides, PMPML commuters can now check live bus locations and estimated arrival times at stops through the "Aapli PMPML" mobile app. The app provides real-time tracking for 1,030 buses.
Additional 916 buses will be integrated into the system, allowing passengers to track nearly the entire PMPML fleet through the app.