Pune: PMPML’s e-buses are accounting for 50% of breakdowns on an average per month owing to charging issues . “Half of the e-buses are failing to complete their daily trips due to low or no charge. The situation is of concern.
The transport body will increase the number of charging points at depots to deal with the situation,” Ramesh Chavan, chief engineer, PMPML , told TOI. These e-buses, first acquired in 2019, are operated by private contractors . PMPML operates a total of 1,927 buses.
Of these, 921 vehicles, including 295 e-buses, are operated by private contractors. All these buses run at least 10-12 trips throughout the day. In July, the buses operated by private contractors suffered breakdowns 1,607 times.
Of these, e-buses broke down 800 times. In June, the buses run by private contractors broke down on 1,204 occasions. E-buses grounded to a halt 600 times.
The number was almost the same in May. “We have instructed the company which had provided these buses to set up charging points in new depots such as Kothrud, Katraj, and Hinjewadi phase-2. Also, a charging point will come up near Wagholi depot.
If any bus is not able to complete its stipulated trip, it is put under the bracket of breakdowns,” the official added. Deepa Mudhol Munde, the CMD of the transport body, said, “Charging issues are cropping up due to continuous running of air conditioners, bus doors opening and closing repeatedly, and buses getting stuck in heavy traffic. We have already install.
