The Hindu   16.08.2012

‘Ambitious plans under JNNURM Plus’

: Ambitious plans for city transport, improvement of drinking water supply by laying a pipeline from Yeleru canal and Raiwada, sewerage network for Gajuwaka and Malkapuram, and tourism comprised the proposals under JNNURM Plus, Special Officer of GVMC and District Collector Lav Agarwal said on Wednesday.

In his address after unfurling the tricolour at the GVMC, he said many of the 20 projects taken up under JNNURM were completed and of the remaining 80 per cent completed qualifying GVMC for the next phase.

Mr. Lav Agarwal said the work on the Asilmetta flyover and BRTS corridors was going on in full swing and once bus shelters and foot over-bridges were constructed it would be thrown open. Beneficiaries of the JNNURM housing would soon be moved to the 15,320 houses constructed at various places.

An action plan ounder slum improvement programme Rajiv Awas Yojana was proposed 117 slums in the first phase. The ‘Vidyasri’ and ‘Sweekaram’ programmes of GVMC were extending assistance to merit students lacking resources. On the moves to combat pollution, he said 40 lakh saplings were proposed to be planted.

Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy and Additional Commissioners S. Krishna Murthy, P. Poornachandra Rao and K. Ramesh participated.

The Indian Express  14.08.2012

File complaints to improve services: transport utility tells commuters

PMPML to organise Pravasi Din in first week of every month to hear commuters’ grievances

For the first time during its short existence of five years, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Pvt Ltd (PMPML) has decided to give a patient hearing to commuters’ grievances. Officials said this will be done by organising Pravasi Din in the first week of every month where commuters can put forth their grievances ans suggestions. The concept is similar to the Lokshahi Din organised by the civic bodies.

“Our effort is to bring transport service closer to commuters,” said Joint Mananging Director Pravin Ashtikar. Over 12 lakh commuters use PMPML services everyday with the transport utility claiming that it runs 1,250 buses daily in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The Pravasi Din will be held at all the 10 depots in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad from 10 am to noon in the first week of every month. All the depot managers have been directed to be present on Pravasi Din and personally hear the grievances and suggestions of commuters. “We want to hear complaints from commuters. Even if they don’t praise us, they will be free to criticise our services and pinpoint faults. This will help us to take corrective measures,” he said.

Ashtikar, however, said commuters should be patient with them. “If they make 100 complaints, we promise to resolve at least 50 of them in a reasonable period. We will take up each and every complaint, but at the same time it will not be feasible for us to implement every demand. If we are not able to meet commuters’ demands, we will try to find an alternative. Still, if we fail, we will convey our inability to do so,” he said. Ashtikar said all this will help PMPML administration strike a close rapport with commuters. “This will surely help us achieve our goal of improving service and removing or lessening our deficiencies,” he said.

PMPML spokesperson Deepak Pardeshi said people can complain about non-availability of buses, late arrival or departure of buses, arrogant conductors and drivers, fequent break-down of buses, broken chairs or windows and so on. “Citizens can make complaints against our service or can place demand for new bus service or increased frequency of service or suggest ideas to improve the service.”

“Commuters can visit depots closer to their residences and need not cometo Swargate headquarters to air their grievances.”

Welcoming PMPML’s move, Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravasi Manch said they will monitor closely whether the body was serious. “We had already suggested that there should be a register of complaints. Each complaint should be numbered and senior officials should do a follow up on complaints or suggestions... Let’s us see how effectively they implement this concept.”

“There is no bar on anybody attending Pravasi Din. Commuters, students, commuter organisations or civic groups, are all welcome,” said Ashtikar.

PMPML helpline

PMPML has started helpline numbers where commuters can call up or SMS to register complaints. Commuters can register their complaints on 24503355 and can send SMS on 9881495589. Officials said everyday they get 20-25 complaints on both the numbers.