PMPML driver booked for bringing out poorly-maintained bus on road

PUNE: The Mundhwa police have registered an offence against a PMPML bus driver for bringing out a poorly maintained vehicle that broke down on the flyover in Hadapsar on Thursday and caused a major traffic snarl.

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus driver has been booked under section 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) of the Indian Penal Code and the relevant sections of the Motor Vehicle Act.


Rajendrakumar Nanavare, a police constable attached to the Hadapsar traffic division, had on Friday lodged a complaint with the Mundhwa police.

A Mundhwa police officer said constables Nanavare and Dattatreya Shinde were on patrolling duty in the Hadapsar division on Thursday afternoon. He said, “Around 2pm, they noticed a breakdown bus on the Hadapsar flyover. The bus was proceeding from Wagholi to Swargate. The breakdown triggered a major traffic snarl on the bridge.”

The officer added that when Nanavare asked the PMPML driver why the bus was stopped in the middle of the road, he told the constable that the vehicle broke down as the entire engine oil leaked. He said, “The driver could not start the bus because its battery had also drained. As a result, he had to stop the bus in the middle of the road. The result was the snarl.”

Nanavare immediately alerted the traffic control room and summoned a crane. “The bus was removed from the bridge around 4.30pm. Till then, all vehicles along the bridge remained struck. There was no movement. The flow of vehicles along the busy Mundhwa-Magarpatta road was also affected,” the officer said.

“The driver had brought out the bus on the road despite knowing that its battery was not fully charged and that oil was leaking from the engine. By doing this, he not only caused traffic problem but also created an accident-like situation. We have booked him and our investigation is on,” the officer said.

A senior PMPML officer said the entire issue will be looked into. “All depot managers have been asked to ensure that the buses are in a proper condition before the drivers take them out for the daily trips. But when it comes to buses belonging to private contractors, it is their responsibility to ensure that the vehicles are in a proper condition,” he said.

The PMPML recently asked its drivers to ensure a ‘30-minute bus run test’ before taking out any vehicle for a trip.