Pune: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), which manages Pune’s public transport system, has significantly increased its ticket fares. The board of directors has approved a resolution to raise the minimum bus fare from ₹5 to ₹10. Additionally, the price of a daily pass has been increased from ₹40 to ₹70, while the monthly pass has seen a sharp hike from ₹900 to ₹1500.
Terming this hike as “back-breaking” for ordinary citizens, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a strong protest at Swargate Chowk in Pune on Sunday morning.
The administration claims the fare hike was implemented to reduce the annual deficit and streamline the fare structure. However, AAP argues that the burden will fall on daily wage workers and the common man, pushing more people toward using private two-wheelers. This would lead to increased traffic congestion and pollution in a city that already ranks fourth globally in terms of traffic congestion.
AAP pointed out that the number of daily PMPML passengers has stagnated between 10 to 11 lakh since 2014. Instead of increasing fares, the administration should look at more efficient alternative revenue sources. They emphasized the need to improve end-mile connectivity for metro passengers — a responsibility PMPML and metro authorities have been avoiding.
The party further criticized the inefficiency and corruption in the system and demanded more buses be introduced on the roads to help ease traffic congestion in Pune.
They cited examples of countries like Luxembourg, Malta, France, Italy, and Brazil, where public transport is being made free. In India, municipal corporations already subsidize public transport, which means the general public indirectly pays for it. Hence, AAP argues there’s no need to increase the fare burden on passengers directly.
AAP has demanded that the District Collector consider opinions from commuter associations, the public, and political parties and revoke the fare hike. Failing this, the party warned of launching even more intense protests.
