PMPML to install 10 more CNG pumps to avoid inconvenience to passengers
The move is aimed at increasing revenue and reducing the waiting times of buses at the current five CNG pump locations
The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) will be installing 10 compressed natural gas (CNG) pumps in addition to the existing five CNG pumps operational at Kothrud, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, Hadapsar, Pimpri and Swargate. The PMPML will be submitting a letter to the Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL), requesting it to set up the necessary CNG pump infrastructure at 10 new sites following complete verification of these sites. The move is aimed at increasing revenue and reducing the waiting times of buses at the current five CNG pump locations.
PMPML chief engineer Ramesh Chavan said, “The step has been taken to avoid inconvenience to the passengers and save CNG. PMPML chairman Omprakash Bakoria has decided to set up one CNG pump at each PMPML depot. An inspection of the sites has also been carried out for that. It will benefit the PMPML in the immediate and long run.”
The PMPL has around 2,100 buses in its fleet including 200 diesel, 458 electric and 1,500 CNG operated buses. On an average, 1,750 buses are provided daily by the PMPML for public transport. It has been made mandatory to fill CNG in the buses at the official CNG pumps every afternoon and at the end of the night shift by the respective drivers on duty. Due to low pressure however, CNG is often not filled to its full capacity which leads to fuel wastage. At times, PMPML drivers have to deboard passengers in the middle of a journey just to go and fill CNG. It takes a long time for them to return to the spot where the passengers were deboarded, causing inconvenience to the passengers.
The PMPML administration has now decided to set up CNG pumps at each of the public transport utility’s 10 depots to avoid inconvenience to passengers. The PMPML is currently operating five CNG depots, each of which has two dispensers for filling CNG. An additional CNG dispenser will be commissioned at 10 more depots. The PMPML is also considering starting CNG pumps at the five e-depots. All of this is aimed at preventing instances of passengers being deboarded in the middle of a journey for the oft-quoted reason of filling CNG.
According to the MGNL, private vehicles too will be allowed to fill CNG at the PMPML CNG depots. While PMPML buses will get a discount of ₹1.20 per kg of CNG unlike private vehicles, private vehicles will get entry into the depots for filling CNG.
PMPML chairman and managing director Om Prakash Bakoria said, “We have five CNG filling stations with 13 dispensers. We have requested MNGL to set up CNG filling stations at nine depots. We have also requested them to increase the number of existing dispensers.”