PMPML using borewell water to wash its buses

PUNE: Amidst the water crisis in the city, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML) is using up the water stored by them specifically for washing the buses. Groundwater through borewells is used to wash the buses every alternate day. Also, rainwater is stored and used for this purpose.

As per the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML)  official, at present the transport utility has 13 depots and all depots have their own washing pit. The water is being used to wash the buses. The PMPML owns more than 1,200 buses plying on the roads and on alternate days the buses are washed. 

“After every three days the buses are washed at their depots. The water procured through borewell is being used for washing. We are not using drinking water supplied by the PMC to wash these buses. It’s PMPML’s priority to make sure that buses are clean so that the passengers feel good,” said PMPML spokesperson Subhash Gaikwad.

The buses take 30 to 45 minutes to wash and around 1,000 litres of water is used for each bus. Every depot has around 100 buses parked and every alternate day, on rotation basis, the buses are washed.

“Washing machines have been installed at the depots and 300 buses are washed every alternate day. Four depots already have automatic washing machines. However, it is true that just one spell of rain can make the buses dirty again,” said PMPML CMD Nayana Gunde.

However, the passengers complain about cleanliness. Sachin Phadke, a commuter, said, “The PMPML is talking about expensive electric buses. It is strange that the government and the municipal bodies are not fixing the existing infrastructure.”

An official said, “Once a bus is washed, its turn for a clean-up comes only after a few days. The automatic washing machines and automatic water and soap sprinklers, are installed at Pune station, Shewalwadi, Kothrud and Pimpri. At other depots, buses are cleaned manually.”