Pune Newsline: Friday, March 23, 2012.
Pune: Poor management by the authorities and neglect by the political class is not all that ails the beleaguered Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). Citizens too have played a part in its downfall, as an RTI query has revealed that 66,813 passengers were caught without tickets by PMPML authorities in the past one year. Data obtained from the Traffic Controller’s office of PMPML shows that a fine of Rs 66.83 lakh has been collected from errant commuters, but civic activists are certain the actual number is much higher, making the transport body reveune loss huge.
According to PMPML’s accounts department, the transport body suffered a loss of Rs 53 crore in 2011-12 and is projected to incur a loss of another Rs 38 crore this year ( 2012-13). The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation that hold 60 per cent and 40 per cent shares in the transport body contribute Rs 2.56 crore and Rs 1.71 crore respectively every month to make up for this loss.
Data from the Departmental Inquiry Office of PMPML shows that out of 3,848 conductors it employs, 684 have faced an inquiry during the past one year on charges of misappropriation while issuing tickets that includes instances of undercharging, issuing incorrect tickets or not issuing tickets at all even after taking the fare from passengers. Of the total 684 conductors who face inquiries under the charges, 466 had to pay penalties, 155 were suspended, 8 were denied annual salary hike, two were dismissed permanently while 37 were let off with a warning.
Activists insist the system to check ticket-less travel is inadequate and there is an urgent need of an overhaul, PMPML authorities feel they are doing all they can to stop the menace. “We have 10 squads comprising two ticket checkers in each of 10 zones of the city. There are another five jeep squads each comprising four members. Besides, each depot has its own squad with four members,” said Deepak Pardeshi, PRO, PMPML.
Jugal Rathi of the PMP Pravasi Manch feels that neither the conductors nor ticket checkers are doing enough to ensure passengers buy tickets. “The ticket checking squads rarely board buses to do a check. We have been requesting PMPML authorities to make the procedure of issuing daily, weekly and monthly passes easier. The current process is cumbersome with people having to go to depots. The passes should be available with conductors instead. They should ensure that more passengers are issued tickets while waiting for buses. This will bring down number people travelling without tickets. Many a time, overcrowding in the bus and even unavailability of change results in passenger not buying tickets,” he said.
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