Pune: To address mounting revenue losses and improve fare collection efficiency, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has introduced stricter measures against passengers who delay purchasing tickets after boarding its buses. The move follows a reported operational deficit of ₹766 crore in the 2024–25 financial year.
Previously, PMPML focused its enforcement efforts primarily on passengers traveling without tickets. However, the transport body has noted a growing trend of commuters deliberately postponing ticket purchases—often waiting until they are about to get off the bus or falsely stating shorter travel distances to pay a lower fare. This behavior has frequently led to confrontations between conductors and passengers, particularly during busy commuting hours.
To curb these practices, PMPML has implemented a series of technological upgrades, including:
A mobile app for digital ticket purchases
Advanced electronic ticketing machines (E-Machines) for bus conductors
A strict mandate requiring passengers to purchase tickets immediately after boarding
Passengers who face technical difficulties with the mobile app or encounter connectivity issues are expected to buy their tickets in cash from the conductor using the e-machine.
Nitin Narvekar, Deputy Managing Director of PMPML, commented, “Some commuters are taking advantage of crowded conditions and the short distances between stops to avoid paying the full fare. To counteract this misuse, it is now mandatory to buy a ticket from the boarding point itself. Non-compliance will attract a financial penalty.”
These reforms are part of PMPML’s larger strategy to enhance service quality, expand bus routes, and boost revenue. The administration is also actively working to resolve existing glitches in the ticketing systems to ensure a smooth transition to the new policy framework.
