In a shocking revelation, some of the renowned NGOs in Pune proved that the numbers presented by the PMPML in the proposal for the hike in the bus fares are fake. It is quite evident now that the transport corporation deliberately put less income and inflated the expenses in this proposal. The news has got the wind in no time and the PMPML is facing severe criticism from all around.

The NGOs have sent a letter to the Maharashtra State Government taking objection against the PMPML bus fare hikes. According to these NGOs, neither they nor the citizens of Pune were given prior information regarding this increase in the bus fares. According to these organizations, Mr. Dilip Band who holds both the posts of divisional commissioner as well as the chairman and managing director of PMPML and hence has no right to take a decision of fare hikes.

To settle down the dispute, Mr. Baba Shinde, member of the Pradeshik Parivahan Pradhikaran called the chiefs of the NGOs for a talk on Tuesday. Mr. Jugal Rathi from PMP Pravasi Manch, Mr. Vivek Velankar form Sajag Nagrik Manch, Mr. Vihar Durve from Wings India are some of those present for the talk.

Mr. Rathi put categorically that the numbers shown by the transport corporation are wrong. He also stated that PMPML earns around Rs. 5 lakh every day through concession schemes like Students’ Free Passes, Free Travel for Police and PMC Servant Concession. In reality these numbers have not been included in the proposal. PMPML earns Rs. 50Lakhs as the net income per month. In the proposal it has been shown as just Rs. 24 Lakhs. The income from the sales of the junk material owned by PMPML is Rs. 36 Lakhs per month which has not been included in the proposal. Income derived from school buses which is Rs. 37 Lakhs per month, too has not at all been mentioned anywhere in the proposal. Moreover, a meager amount of Rs. 40,000 has been put as PMP’s income through advertisements per day. In a nutshell, almost all the possible numbers in the proposal have been inflated.

The NGOs in the meeting called the fare hike wrong and hence not acceptable. They also demanded that the PMPML should revise the price hike and make it reasonable.

- Yogesh Sapre