PMC proposes free bus rides for women, children and senior citizens

Npnews24 online : Copying an initiative from Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s, group of corporators in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed free transport services for children, women and senior citizens in the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan.

It was put on table before standing committee and said the scheme should be started on the line of Delhi government’s plan, which allows women to travel for free by metro, rail and bus.

Aim of the scheme is to reduce vehicular pollution and promote public transport.

Annually, 20,000 students’ gets passes from the PMPL and 15 lakh commuters use the bus service. Also senior citizen and students avail the service at discounted rates by using bus passes.

“If the free service is started, the PMC and PCMC will have to bear the cost of the financial losses caused by new scheme.

Several activists in the city have welcomed the move. “The trend of providing free public transport services is seen in various cities across the world. It is the need of the hour to attract more commuters to public transport, said Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravashi Manch, a citizens’ group working for better public transport.