Pune, India – A prominent urban mobility non-governmental organization (NGO), Parisar, has raised significant concerns regarding the operational challenges and declining ridership faced by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), the city’s public bus service provider. A recent webinar and subsequent analysis of publicly available data have highlighted a critical situation marked by falling passenger numbers, a stagnant fleet, and persistent operational inefficiencies.
Falling Ridership and Revenue Shortfalls
Recent analyses indicate a substantial drop in PMPML’s ridership, with a revenue loss of over ₹47 crore reported in the financial year 2024–25. This decline saw passenger numbers fall by over 2.25 crore compared to the previous year. The transport utility’s monthly revenue has struggled to surpass ₹50 crore in 11 out of 12 months during this fiscal period. This trend has been attributed to several factors, including poorly maintained buses, infrequent services, and an increasing preference among commuters for alternative modes of transport, such as the expanding Pune Metro services.
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that in 2025, PMPML earned ₹678.89 crore from ticket sales, but the number of passengers travelled by its buses declined by 900,000 compared to 2024. This occurred despite a fare hike in 2025, which led to an increase in revenue by ₹98 crore compared to the previous year, underscoring a worrying disconnect between fare adjustments and passenger volume.
Fleet Stagnation and Operational Inefficiencies
Further compounding the issue is the stagnation of PMPML’s bus fleet. Data analysis revealed that the total number of buses remained largely between approximately 1,900 and 2,050 throughout 2025. More concerningly, the composition of the fleet has shifted, with a significant decline in owned buses and a growing dependence on hired vehicles. This reliance on hired buses raises questions about long-term cost sustainability and consistent service quality. At present, PMPML operates around 1,700 buses daily across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR), from a total fleet of 2,049 buses.
Breakdowns continue to be a chronic problem. In a single day in April 2026, heavy rains exposed preparedness gaps, leading to 97 bus breakdowns and disrupting services across multiple routes. This incident followed similar occurrences in July 2024, when PMPML reported 108 and 124 breakdowns on separate days. Over a two-year period, nearly 40,000 bus breakdowns have been recorded, highlighting a critical issue with maintenance and operational reliability. The daily breakdown average is around 35, indicating persistent neglect.
Service Gaps and Commuter Concerns
The NGO’s analysis also pointed to issues with service delivery. As the number of operational routes increased steadily through 2025, stretching the same number of buses across more routes has led to thinning out of frequencies and longer waiting times for commuters. Only about 88 percent of planned service kilometers were operated during 2025, falling short of targets. Commuters have expressed frustration over issues such as buses skipping stops, digital payment failures, wrongful fare deductions, and instances of rude behavior by staff.
A significant concern raised by Parisar is the safety and inclusivity of the bus system for women commuters. A study based on a survey of 540 women, focus group discussions, and infrastructure audits of bus stops revealed that over 57 percent of women felt anxious while travelling by bus, and 11 percent reported experiencing or witnessing harassment. The audits highlighted a lack of essential safety features at bus stops, such as emergency alert systems and CCTV signage. Many women also reported long waiting times and concerns about safety while walking to and from bus stops, often through poorly lit areas.
Call for Integrated Approach and Data-Driven Improvements
Parisar has advocated for a more integrated and data-driven approach to improve PMPML’s services. The NGO stressed that simply adding new buses would not resolve the underlying issues. Instead, it called for a focus on improving current operational conditions, maintenance, and service quality. The organization also presented a Gender Action Plan Framework for Pune, offering recommendations to enhance safety and inclusivity for women commuters.
Urban transport experts emphasize the need for PMPML to adopt a comprehensive strategy that includes timely schedules, minimal breakdowns, smart route planning, and affordability. They suggest that the current fragmented planning approach, which separates PMPML’s responsibilities from those of Maha Metro, hinders the creation of a cohesive public transport ecosystem. Integrating PMPML with the Metro system and focusing on user-centric services, rather than solely on bridging financial losses through fare hikes, is seen as crucial for the future of Pune’s public transportation.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
