Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has sought 500 seven-metre mini buses from the Central Government to improve public transport on the narrow roads of central Pune and provide feeder connectivity to metro stations, according to a report by Pudhari – Pune.
The proposed buses are intended for Pune’s central and older areas, where roads are often too narrow for regular 12-metre and nine-metre buses to operate smoothly. PMPML faces operational difficulties while navigating these routes, and the larger vehicles can contribute to congestion, the report said.
The mini buses would serve two primary purposes: connecting passengers to metro stations and carrying passengers onward after they leave the metro network. They would also operate in the peth areas and on internal roads and lanes where larger buses have limited access.
The proposal comes as Pune seeks to strengthen the link between its conventional bus network and metro services. Feeder services can help connect neighbourhoods that are not directly served by metro stations, while smaller buses can provide access on roads where full-sized public transport vehicles face physical constraints.
PMPML’s demand is for 500 buses measuring seven metres in length. The buses have not yet been added to the fleet, and their deployment will depend on approval from the Central Government. The supplied report does not specify the estimated cost, procurement schedule, operating routes or the government programme through which the buses have been sought.
The proposal also addresses a long-standing operational challenge in central Pune: matching vehicle size with the city’s street network. In older parts of the city, narrow roads and internal lanes restrict the movement of larger buses, limiting the reach of public transport and potentially forcing passengers to depend on other modes for short connections.
If the demand is approved and the buses are inducted, PMPML’s passenger vehicle capacity would increase. The administration expects the smaller fleet to improve access for residents in central Pune and metro users, while helping save travel time and cost and reducing congestion. These outcomes remain dependent on approval, acquisition and the eventual allocation of routes.
The next step is PMPML’s continued follow-up with the Central Government for approval of the 500-bus demand. The supplied report does not provide a decision date or an implementation timeline.
