Pune buses to get GPS facility too

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is planning to introduce a wide range of commuter-friendly measures to improve the quality of service. Chairman-cum-managing director of the transport utility Nitin Khade spelt out the company's plans at an interactive meeting with NGOs on the occasion of the first anniversary of PMT Pravasi Manch.
"We have plans to introduce GPS on buses that will enable us not only to keep an eye on movement of vehicles, but also enable us to see the response of commuters on different routes at various point of time. If need be, we can provide additional buses on a particular route to tackle the rush," Khade said. Khade, who took over as PMPML CMD a month ago, said that the company was also planning to come up with information boards at different bus stoppages that provide information to commuters about the arrival of the next bus and its route. "Further, we have plans to start SMS service, where a commuter can send a message and seek details about the bus number and the route," he added. Khade said that the company was seeking funds for implementing the new services. "We had initial talks with World Bank and the latter has shown interest in the project. We will try implement these plans as soon as possible," he added.
The PMPML CMD informed the NGOs that modernisation of the bus depots would be undertaken since the company was in the process of buying new AC buses. Unless the depots were upgraded, maintaining them would become difficult.