USER UNFRIENDLY PMT/PCMT

Dt. March 8, 2007
The Commissioner,
Pune Municipal Corporation,
Pune.

Kind Attn: Dr. Nitin Kareer, I.A.S. [Handed over personally at
Shivajinagar Ward office, Ghole Road, Pune]

Sub: User Unfriendly PMT/ PCMT
Sir,

Pune is a cosmopolitan city growing in population in leaps and bounds. Yet the public transport service [read PMT/PCMT] is not USER FRIENDLY at all.

A] The boards are not properly placed most of the time [for clear visibility], leading to commuters needing to ask the conductor/passengers whether the bus goes to or via a particular area.

B] The route numbers and destination boards are in Devnagiri script. There are a number of people [including visitors and tourists from South India and from abroad] who cannot read this script and several who cannot read quickly, as the bus stops at the bus stop for hardly a few seconds. Secondly, if there is traffic in front, the bus stops either ahead or behind the stop, or does not stop at all. I suggest that the route number and destination should also be boldly printed in English. This will go a long way in making travel easier for commuters. [Please follow Mumbai’s BEST in this connection.] There should also be a destination board at the entry door.

C] The boards should be displayed PROMINENTLY for easy vision from a distance. The whole width of the top front portion of the bus can be utilized for printing the destination and route number in English and Devnagiri.

D] In several cases, there are buses going to the same destination but via different routes. In such cases, the intermediate stop [eg. Via Wakdewadi or via Tadiwala Road] should be prominently mentioned in RED COLOUR IN English and Devnagiri.
E] The bus must stop AT the BUS STOP and not elsewhere [not ahead or behind the stop]. This will ensure commuter safety [from accidents in running on the road amidst traffic] and proper queue system.

F] On all the bus stops, route numbers and all stops [as per the route] should be PROMINENTLY displayed in English & Devnagiri. Presently only a few stops have this and that too only in Devnagiri.

G] The name of the bus stop should be mentioned prominently in both languages on the bus stop shelter.

H] The bus should have on either of its inner sides the list of bus stops on its route [in English & Devnagiri], just as is done in Mumbai local trains [to enable the commuter to know his alighting point].

I] Strict enforcement of the rules for Entry & Exit points should be done. However, for senior citizens and handicapped people, entry should be allowed from the Exit Door.

J] Seats should be reserved for senior citizens, handicapped and ladies.

K] Soul stirring music e.g. patriotic songs could be played on all the buses which can help in national integration.

L] As PMT/PCMT is a public service, relevant and adequate training should be given to conductors and drivers to ensure courtesy to commuters.

M] A guide for PMT and PCMT bus routes [combined in one booklet] should be published in English and Devnagiri and should be made available in all bookstalls.

Let Pune show its hospitality to visitors and tourists by improving the services of PMT/PCMT. Pune is not only the cultural capital of Maharashtra, but also an educational hub of India as thousands of students from all over India and the world prefer Pune for their academic pursuits. I also need not stress that Pune is also an industrial hub of India and has the potential to overtake Bangalore as the IT city. Pune will also be hosting the Commonwealth Youth Games 2008. For all this, infrastructure has to be created and roads and efficient public transport are the most important factors for giving Pune a face-lift.

A good public transport system will encourage more two wheeler owners to switch on to this mode, thus reducing the growing number of two wheelers on the roads and hence decreasing number of accidents on the streets. It would also help in attracting tourists to this historic city. If the above suggestions are implemented, not only will the image of PMT/PCMT improve, but revenues and hence profits also will shoot up, with more and more people relying on public transport.

I would highly appreciate a line in acknowledgement of this letter.

Yours faithfully,

ANUP. Y. ATTAVAR