Pune: PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited), last week withdrew all its 2,300 buses from roads in PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) and PCMC (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) jurisdictions after the district administration decided to suspend Pune city’s transport service amid rising cases of COVID-19.
From Saturday, hundreds of employees working in essential struggled hard to travel as PMPML remained in depots. The suspension of PMPML also made difficult for employees to report to their workplaces.
Now, the administration on Tuesday decided to allow PMPML buses to run only for those working in essential service sector. The PMPML allotted 20 routes in both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad for ferrying ssential service staff. While the bus service has started in Pimpri Chinchwad, PMPML in Pune will start from Wednesday.
"The bus service will operate in two phases: between 6 am to 1 pm and from 1 pm to 9 pm, said PMPML, President and Managing Director Rajendra Jagtap.
He also clarified that the employees of both the Municipal Corporations, doctors, nurses, employees of private hospitals as well as government employees will be allowed to board the bus only after showing their identity cards. At present 41 buses have been planned for essential services. Those buses will run on the following routes every hour:
-Nanded City to Deccan
- IAT Khadakwasla to Pune Station
- Aundh to Deccan
- Vimannagar to PMC Building
- Vishrantwadi to PMC Building
- Sangvi to Pune Station
- Chinchwadgaon to Pune Station
- PMC Building to Wagholi,
- PMC Building to Lohegaon
- PMC Building to Kondhwa Hospital,
- PMC Building to Wadgaon Sheri
- Warje Malwadi to Pune Station
- Kothrud Depot to Pune Station
- Warje Malwadi to PMC Building
- Katraj-Pune Station
- Bhekrainagar to PMC Building
- Saswad to Pune Station
- Talegaon to PMC Building
- Rajgurunagar to PMC Building
On the basis of Maharashtra government directives, the PMC has decided to close all shops, except those selling essential commodities.
Essential workers faced issues for three days as not a single PMPML bus was running on the streets. The BJP in Pune had opposed the restrictions stating that this would affect the life of poor. BJP also opposed the move of suspension of PMPML.
BJP stated that if bus services remained close, it would add to the problems to senior citizens, patients relatives and workers as they would not be able to travel.
Meanwhile, Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar on Monday revised the night curfew timing in the city. The curfew will now be enforced from 6 pm to 7 am on weekdays, as against the earlier timing of 6 pm to 6 am.
