Pune, 25th August 2026: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) board has approved a series of measures aimed at improving passenger welfare, safety and employee benefits.
The decisions were taken at a board meeting on Monday, August 24, amid discussions on accident compensation, senior citizen concessions, pension-related issues, fleet expansion and service efficiency.
PMPML has approved a 50% concession on bus passes for citizens above 60 years of age. The move is expected to make public transport more affordable for senior citizens in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and encourage greater use of PMPML services.
The board has also approved a revised accident compensation policy. Under the new policy, passengers injured in PMPML bus accidents will be eligible for financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh, compared with ₹50,000 earlier.
In cases of death, the legal heirs of the deceased will be eligible for assistance of up to ₹3 lakh, an increase from the earlier ₹2 lakh.
For the first time, the policy will also provide compensation for property damage caused in PMPML bus accidents. The amount will be determined based on the assessment made by the government.
The revised compensation policy will also apply to buses operated by private service providers engaged by PMPML.
The decisions come shortly after a fatal incident in Pune in which a young woman fell onto the road while attempting to get down through the front door of a school bus and was run over by its wheels.
In view of passenger safety concerns, the PMPML board discussed installing dashcams in both PMPML-owned and hired buses. The cameras are intended to provide objective recordings of incidents inside buses and along routes, particularly during accidents and other emergencies.
The board also stressed the need to reduce bus breakdowns, improve service quality and use technology to strengthen passenger safety.
The board also reviewed pending employee-related matters, including implementation of the pension scheme for eligible employees in accordance with a High Court order.
The board also approved the reinstatement of 37 employees.
The pension decision is expected to benefit eligible employees and former employees, including those who retired, took voluntary retirement or died after the relevant period. PMPML has also extended the period for submitting documents required for pension benefits from one month to six months, providing additional time to beneficiaries and their families.
The board reviewed plans to procure new buses and rationalise routes according to passenger demand. It also discussed strengthening feeder services connecting PMPML routes with the Metro and other public transport systems.
Officials stressed the need to increase the fleet, reduce breakdowns and improve coordination between PMPML and the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies.
The meeting also covered tender procedures, statutory audits, GST, TDS, professional tax and other administrative and financial compliance matters. The overall focus was on improving PMPML's efficiency while strengthening passenger safety, employee welfare and public transport services.
