Deepa Mudhol Munde is new PMPML CMD, Ashish Yerekar’s appointment cancelled

According to activists, the frequent changes at the helm results in important projects slowing down and the transport body’s failure to see them through to completion. According to activists, several important projects — including tracking buses in real time, the launch of a new cellphone app for passengers, increasing the transport body’s share in the overall passenger traffic of the city, and improving the situation of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) — are still in progress.

“In 17 years since the PMPML’s establishment in 2007, the transport body has seen 22 CMDs. It was established to provide a robust public transport system for the cities of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Despite leaders loudly proclaiming at meetings that the public transport system will be strengthened to increase its usage, the reality of the past 17 years shows they act contrary to their words. In these 17 years, 21 individuals have come and gone as the head of this company. Now, the order for the appointment of the 22nd person has been issued. This is the third time in the past year alone. Now, Pune residents understand the true meaning of the term ‘dynamic government’,” said Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch.

Sanjay Shitole of PMP Pravasi Manch said that there are many projects and long term goals of the transport body that remain pending and frequent changes in the leadership affects the body’s progress adversely.

“Intelligent traffic management system (ITMS) and a re-launch of the mobile app were promised by the transport body and work had been started, but these haven’t seen the light of day. Despite huge expenditure on the studies, the situation of BRT hasn’t improved,” said Shitole.

He said that the PMPML serves two cities (Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad) with a cumulative population of about 80 lakh (including floating population) and should at least serve 15 percent of these people – around 12 lakh.

“At present, the PMPML has a daily ticket sale of 11 lakh. If 60 per cent users use it twice a day, then only 6-7 lakh citizens are served a day. This must go up to 12-13 lakh. There’s been no efforts towards that end. The biggest problem in the city is traffic congestion and frequent changes in PMPML’s CMD shows there has been no seriousness on the government’s part to resolve this issue,” said Shitole.

In the last 17 years, only one officer R N Joshi completed the three year tenure of the CMD. He served from January 3, 2011 to October 31, 2014.