The Indian Express            26.11.2013 

In IT hub Hinjewadi, PMC plans special AC buses for jerk-free ride

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which is all set to induct AC buses in the PMPML fleet to ply in IT hub Hinjewadi, has ensured extra comfort for commuters by procuring automatic transmission vehicles that run on lesser fuel and provide a jerk-free ride.

The move is aimed at discouraging IT professionals from using private vehicles.

PMC had made a budgetary provision for introducing AC buses in the PMPML fleet to address severe traffic problem on the Hinjewadi route. Most of the IT professionals commute by private vehicles, which worsens the peak-hour rush.

"PMC would soon get 10 AC buses that would be pressed into service by February. Six buses will be introduced to ferry IT professionals to their offices, while two each would be used by the civic heritage department and Pune darshan service for ferrying tourists," said Kishor Pol, executive engineer and head of vehicle depot of PMC.

He said the PMC has taken the initiative in the category of "prestige service" and wants to make it successful at any cost.

"The best way to attract high-profile commuters to use public transport system is through providing comfort to them. Therefore, the PMC is working on increasing the comfort level and has decided to get automatic transmission vehicle, i.e automatic gear, so that commuters do not have to go through the same experience of travelling in normal PMPML bus. The jerks during gear change and brake application would be avoided by using automatic gear change vehicle," Pol said.

He said the response to the buses would decide the future of increasing the service.

Civic activist Jugal Rathi said the PMC's intention is good but the PMPML has lost its credibility and that would hamper the efforts to encourage commuters to use public transport service.

PMPML should assure adequate frequency instead of focussing merely on comfort, he said. "Comfort and other facilities can come later. The first thing should be increasing confidence of its availability with assured frequency. PMC should coordinate with IT companies while deciding the time table of PMPML buses on the route."

Rathi said the PMC has been unable to make use of four AC buses it bought for BRTS. "The PMC has failed in giving service through AC buses on BRTS. If it fails in the service for IT professionals, more public money will be wasted," he added.