The Pune Municipal Corporation has approved ₹23.11 crore for Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited as reimbursement for free and concessional bus passes issued during 2025-26, but the amount is ₹11.77 crore short of the reimbursement recommended by civic departments.
The PMC Standing Committee cleared the proposal on November 5 after examining PMPML’s claims. The payment will be made from the amount available in the civic budget, but it will require approval from the PMC General Body before it can be released.
PMPML had initially claimed ₹36.18 crore for passes issued under several concession schemes during 2025-26. After reviewing the claims, the concerned PMC departments recommended reimbursement of ₹34.87 crore. However, the approved amount was reduced because the civic budget did not have sufficient funds set aside for the full recommendation.
The reimbursement covers annual, half-yearly and quarterly student passes, along with passes issued at 50 per cent concessional rates. It also includes free passes for senior citizens, freedom fighters, meritorious individuals and PMC employees. The Information and Public Relations Department separately recommended ₹71,300 for free passes issued to reporters working for daily and weekly newspapers.
The departments did not recommend PMPML’s claim of ₹1.27 crore for 22-day passenger punching passes. This non-recommendation, along with the reduction in the final amount approved, accounts for part of the difference between the transport undertaking’s original claim and the amount that will be reimbursed.
The PMC’s 2026-27 budget contains an allocation of ₹23.11 crore for bus pass concessions, matching the amount approved by the Standing Committee. Meeting the departments’ recommended reimbursement of ₹34.87 crore would require the civic body to arrange an additional ₹11.77 crore.
The proposal was brought forward as PMPML was also seeking a ₹33 crore advance from the PMC before Diwali to pay ex-gratia amounts and bonuses to its employees. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram placed the reimbursement proposal before the Standing Committee. The next formal step is approval by the PMC General Body, after which the payment can be made from the available budget provision.
