Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) chairman and managing director Mahesh Awhad has been personally travelling by public transport buses every Monday over the past few weeks following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to use public transport. Through these journeys, Awhad said he has been directly interacting with commuters to understand their daily problems and improve services.
Speaking about his experience, Awhad said overcrowding and traffic congestion near bus depots remain major concerns. “I personally stood for nearly an hour while travelling from Nigdi to Bal Gandharva and experienced the discomfort passengers face in crowded buses. This has helped us understand the need for improvements, especially for senior citizens and long-route passengers. We have also noticed auto-rickshaws blocking bus exits near Nigdi depot, causing congestion and operational issues. PMPML is coordinating with the traffic department to address the problem,” he said.