Indian Express 28.06.2010
No communique, no free travel for 35,000 Pimpri students this year
MANOJ MORE Tags : corporation, free travel for 35, 000 Pimpri students Posted: Mon Jun 28 2010, 04:43 hrs
Pune: A communication gap between the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the transport utility, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), has resulted in the utility not extending the free travel facility to around 35,000 students.All these students, hailing from Pimpri-Chinchwad, were provided passes for free travel between their schools and residences last academic year. This year, the PMPML officials have apparently not sent any communique to the civic body; and the PCMC has not taken any decision in this regard.
PMPML spokesperson Deepak Pardeshi said the process for distribution of application forms to students for getting the bus passes had begun in the PMC jurisdiction, but it could not be started in the PCMC limits as there had been no communication from the civic body on the payment part or extension of the scheme. “The PMC has conveyed to us that it will pay the same amount as last year - around Rs 6 crore. We are expecting the same from PCMC, but are yet to get any initimation.”
Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said they were awaiting a communique from the PMPML. He said the administration could place a proposal on the money part at the standing committee meeting on Tuesday, if that was the issue.
PCMC officials said, “The PMPML board takes a decision for its entire jurisdiction, which includes both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. If it has taken a decision for Pune, the same could be followed in Pimpri-Chinchwad also. Why has it started the process only in Pune? This discrimination should stop.”
Pardeshi said they were distributing the application forms for free travel facility to school representatives this year.
