Payoshi Bisht, Pune
Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is ready to change the fate of the bus service in the city by implementing electrically driven double-decker buses, which is the first time after a deadlock of over one and a half years in the procurement process has been broken.
These brand-new double-decker buses seem to be efficient and include air conditioning for a pleasant experience and also an excellent suspension that allows the drivers to have a stable journey. However, the best part is the careful placement of two staircases, a feature that not only makes the passenger go up or down in a convenient manner but also adds convenience during boarding and alighting. The use of technology, like digital ticketing, and the elimination of the traditional passenger experience are the two major causes of the percentage of fare evasion rates. Conductors are now using digital tickets instead of paper ones to prevent trickery.
Designed with high passenger numbers as the key focus, these buses have room for up to 70 passengers seated and 40 passengers standing, making them the most suitable solution for Pune’s bustling commute.
This high capacity is linked to the reduction of the number of buses and trips thus, solving the traffic problem on busy routes. Using ELGI BUS technology by ELGI Electric to manufacture lithium-titanate buses that are the lightest and the cheapest currently available in the market can speed up E2 since it will require less power to run and charge time will be significantly reduced. Marka Bus Company has indeed broken the tradition of producing the energy-intensive buses that are most commonly used in the field of transport, with partnerships with neoteric firms such as Yangzhou and SSBs (Specialised Service Buses).
The scenic design of the latest buses is largely based on the iconic double-decker buses of London, which bring a hint of style and uniqueness to Pune’s streets. Not only is this decision easy on the eyes, but it also serves the purpose of upscaling the city’s public transportation as an attractive and modern public transit system.
The new buses, electric-powered, can make a difference in the environment by consuming less fuel than the normal buses, at a nominal cost of Rs. 6 per kilometre.
The decision to introduce these double-decker buses was made in December 2022 under the leadership of Omprakash Bakoria, who, at that time, was the PMPML president of the entire board.
PMPML has a fleet of 1,650 buses, which carry an average of 12 lakh passengers daily. The daily passenger income is almost Rs. 1.5 crore, with buses covering a total of 3.6 lakh kilometres every day. These 370 routes and 4,300 bus stops of the network not only connect and interlink various suburbs of the city but also serve to be an important part of the public transportation system in Pune.