As Pune prepares for the November 20 assembly elections, a shortage of buses has put the election transport arrangements in jeopardy. Despite the district election administration securing 602 buses from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) and 968 buses from Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), they were still short by 150 buses. To meet the demand, the administration enlisted the help of the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) and private tourist bus operators, securing 75 buses from the RTO and 73 buses from private sources.
The total cost for these buses is substantial, with the Pune district administration having spent Rs.3.5 crore during the previous Lok Sabha elections.
The need for buses is critical as they will transport voting machines to over 8,400 polling stations across 21 constituencies.
The election authorities have scheduled the transport of voting machines to nearby stations over a 12-hour period, while more distant stations will receive their deliveries on a 24-hour schedule.
To address the shortage of buses, Pune’s deputy regional transport officer, Swapnil Bhosle, confirmed that the district sourced additional buses from the RTO and private companies. The rates for these buses have been set at Rs.55 per hour per kilometre for 1,570 buses from MSRTC and PMPML. This rate covers the buses used for transporting voting machines on polling day.
The situation became more challenging due to the Pune district administration’s delay in clearing dues from previous elections. The administration cleared Rs.3.66 crore in dues—Rs.1.61 crore for MSRTC and Rs.2.96 crore for PMPML—to resolve outstanding payments.
To ensure the timely delivery of voting machines, election officials will install GPS systems on all buses. The system will track vehicles in real-time, ensuring timely arrivals and adherence to designated routes despite the bus shortage.
