Pune Metro and PMPML Single Ticketing Proposal Underway
PUNE: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is gearing up to expand its feeder bus services to connect seamlessly with the city’s metro stations. In pursuit of this objective, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is currently in the process of procuring e-buses.
It is anticipated that a crucial decision will soon be made regarding the feasibility of enabling passengers on this integrated route to utilize a unified ticket for both the Pune Metro and PMPML services. Presently, the Pune metro system operates along two lines: one connecting Vanaj to Ruby Hall Clinic, and the other stretching from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Civil Court. These lines collectively witness a daily ridership of approximately 35,000 individuals.
At present, the PMPML offers a limited feeder service, with only one bus per hour serving eight stations along the metro routes. However, due to the infrequency of these buses, the potential benefits are hampered. To enhance metro ridership, plans are being developed to extend PMPML bus services to cater to residents residing within a four-kilometre radius of the metro stations.
Addressing the need for improved air quality, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has secured funding from the 15th Finance Commission. This allocation has paved the way for the potential acquisition of E-buses with a width of seven meters. The procurement process for these buses is presently underway.
In parallel, MahaMetro has introduced the ‘Pune Card’ system, aimed at streamlining the city’s public transportation network. Presently applicable solely to the metro, there is a proposed plan to extend the card’s usability to PMPML buses as well. This development would allow passengers utilizing the feeder services to travel using a single ticket, obviating the necessity for multiple tickets on different modes of transport. However, this proposal is still in the pipeline and has not yet been implemented.
Hemant Sonawane, Public Relations Officer of Pune Metro, conveyed, “Pune Metro’s One Plus Card adheres to the standards of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) of India, enabling its use across various metro and bus services in the country. If PMPML opts for a similar approach, the potential for a unified ticketing system encompassing Pune Metro and PMPML services becomes feasible. However, while the proposition has been put forth, its execution remains pending.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, Satish Gate, Public Relations Officer of PMPML, remarked, “Comprehensive information will be shared once a concrete decision is put into effect.”
By Madhupriya Dhanwate
