Commuters raise concerns after hike in PMPML bus services

The recent fare hike by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) has sparked widespread concern among daily commuters. Minimum fares for bus rides have doubled from Rs.5 to Rs.10, while the price of a daily bus pass has jumped from Rs 40 to Rs 70. The cost of a monthly pass has also surged from Rs 900 to Rs 1,500.
For many, this hike has come as a shock. Vrajeysh Rokade, a 20-year-old student at DES Pune University and a daily commuter, said, 'As a student, the fare hike is quite dramatic for me. I only get a limited monthly allowance, since I am a student of films, I have to go to different parts of the city for my recordings, so this sudden increase is definitely going to affect me. Even the services aren't good. The seats are broken, and buses are so overcrowded that it's hard to even stand.'
Eighteen-year-old Arya Deshmukh, a student at Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, echoed similar concerns. 'I stay in Chinchwad, and PMPML used to be an affordable and convenient option for long-distance travel with a daily pass. But now, it's becoming expensive for students like me,' she said.
Others, like Sara Bhat from Fergusson College, expressed concern not just for themselves but for the economically disadvantaged. 'I'm privileged enough that a hike of Rs 5–10 won't affect me much. But my house help travels from Katraj to Navi Peth every day. She doesn't have the same monetary privilege. It's people like her who will be hit the hardest,' she said.
An English professor who uses PMPML daily questioned the timing of the fare revision. 'Buses are often late, overcrowded, or don't show up at all. While we understand that PMPML needs funds to operate, fare hikes should follow visible service improvements. Public transport is a lifeline for many. We hope authorities act to make it more affordable and commuter-friendly,' they said.
Vikrant Kadam, a hardware engineer, expressed disappointment, saying 'I travel across the entire city in a PMPML bus daily. This rise in the prices has really pinched the pockets of me and other people, especially from the lower middle class. Even after the hike, I haven't seen any betterment in the services. The buses are still late. And people still have no place to sit in the bus. I feel that it is really unfair to us passengers who travel long distances daily with a tight budget.'
A Public Relations Officer from PMPML stated, 'The fare hike is a result of inflation and the rising costs of CNG, petrol, and diesel. This is the first significant price hike in 12 years. However, fare concessions for senior citizens, differently abled individuals, and school students remain unchanged.'

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