Pune: The Pune District Luxury Bus Association has declared its intention to begin an indefinite sit-in protest on April 10, 2025, unless the ongoing ban on designated pick-up points for private and luxury buses in the city is lifted. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Pune Union of Working Journalists auditorium on Monday afternoon.
Despite a government resolution (GR) mandating the establishment of designated pick-up and parking facilities for private travel buses in Pune and its surrounding areas, these facilities have yet to be allocated. The association voiced concerns about the ongoing actions by the traffic police against luxury buses, deeming them arbitrary and unfair due to the absence of official pick-up points.
The protest will be held outside the offices of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), the Regional Transport Office (RTO), and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The association’s leadership, including President Balasaheb Khedekar, Shyam Shetty, Basit Siddiqui, Ravindra More, Anand Lohe, and Maruti Nagine, addressed the media to demand an immediate solution.
On April 3, 2025, the association submitted a memorandum to the PMC Commissioner requesting the urgent establishment of bus stands and parking zones, and the cessation of penal actions by the traffic police. The association highlighted that as a Smart City, Pune must provide appropriate parking and terminal facilities for intercity buses, a vital component of the city’s public transport system.
Citing Section 117 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the association emphasized that it is mandatory for the traffic department to designate pick-up and parking points for travel operators, yet no such points have been set up. They also raised concerns about the continued restrictions, such as a ban on bus movement from Sangamwadi through Gunjan Chowk in Yerawada.
Notices have also been issued to travel operators in several areas, including Pimpri, Chinchwad, Kalewadi, Sangvi, Kothrud, Warje, Yerawada, Kharadi Bypass, and Wagholi, demanding that they shut down their offices and pick-up points. This has further exacerbated the issue for bus operators and passengers alike.
The association recalled a similar situation in 1999 when private buses were banned from entering Pune, leading to legal action in the High Court. At that time, the PMC had assured the court that it would provide central and peripheral pick-up points around the city, but these facilities were never developed. Despite several directives from the state’s Transport and Urban Development Departments, the necessary infrastructure has yet to be implemented.
According to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, except for a few locations such as Maldhakka Chowk, Ambedkar Chowk, Tilak Road, and Shivaji Road, there is no blanket ban on private luxury buses in Pune. The association argued that both State Transport (ST) and private buses should be subject to the same regulations, and continued punitive action solely against private buses is unjust and should be stopped immediately.
