Pune, 27th May 2026: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is facing growing financial concerns as repeated hikes in diesel and CNG prices have significantly increased its operational expenses.
The transport body, already struggling with falling passenger numbers, increasing maintenance costs, and mounting annual losses, is now under additional pressure due to rising fuel rates.
In the last 25 days alone, diesel prices have increased by ₹7.80 per litre, while CNG prices have gone up by ₹1.50 per kilogram. The sharp increase in fuel costs over four phases within a month has disrupted PMPML’s financial planning and further deepened its losses.
PMPML currently operates around 1,700 buses across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the PMRDA region. Of these, nearly 1,160 buses run on CNG, while 233 buses operate on diesel. The transport body requires approximately 90,000 kilograms of CNG and 6,000 liters of diesel daily to maintain services.
On May 1, PMPML purchased CNG at ₹89 per kilogram and diesel at ₹90.53 per litre. The rates have now increased to ₹90.50 for CNG and ₹98.33 for diesel. Earlier, PMPML received bulk purchase discounts of ₹1.75 per kilogram on CNG and ₹0.80 per liter on diesel.
However, after fuel prices started rising, companies reportedly stopped providing discounts on diesel purchases.
Due to the fuel price hike, PMPML’s monthly expenditure has increased by nearly ₹50 to ₹55 lakh. Earlier, the transport body spent around ₹24 to ₹25 crore per month on CNG and nearly ₹1.60 crore on diesel. The latest hikes have added nearly ₹40 lakh to CNG expenses and ₹15 lakh to diesel costs every month.
The situation has also raised concerns among commuters about another possible ticket fare hike. PMPML had already revised its fare structure from June 1, 2025, by reducing fare stages and increasing ticket prices for longer distances. Monthly pass rates were also increased at the time.
However, PMPML Chairman and Managing Director Mahesh Awhad clarified that passengers will not be burdened despite the increasing fuel costs.
“Although fuel prices are rising continuously, PMPML will not increase ticket fares for now. We do not want the additional burden to fall on passengers,” Awhad said.
