PMPML workers demand fair treatment as salary deduction policy is paused—story on PuneriPages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
A city-wide transport strike has been avoided—at least for now. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) has stepped back from its controversial plan to deduct a portion of its drivers’ and conductors’ salaries. And honestly, as someone who’s been following this story closely, what’s striking isn’t just the decision itself, but what it reveals about the everyday struggles of Pune’s public transport system—and the people who keep it running.
Table of Contents
What We Know
Here’s the short version: PMPML recently proposed a Rs 300 salary deduction for any driver or conductor involved in a bus breakdown, accident, or cases where bus maintenance was found lacking. The idea was to hold workers more accountable and reduce service disruptions.
But it didn’t go down well. The workers’ union pushed back hard—rightfully so, in my opinion. After facing mounting pressure and the threat of a strike, PMPML decided to put the policy on hold, at least temporarily.
The Administration’s Side vs. The Union’s Stand
To be fair, the administration’s concern is not baseless. Passenger complaints have been growing. Buses break down in the middle of routes. Delays are common. PMPML says this plan was about encouraging better performance and preventing avoidable issues.
But here’s the thing: unions argue that the proposal was trying to plaster over deeper cracks with a salary cut. And I think they have a point. One union leader told me, “How can you blame the driver for a breakdown when the bus they’re driving is 12 years old and barely holding together?” And really, isn’t that the real issue?
The View from the Driver’s Seat
This is where the story gets personal. Because behind every bus you see stuck in traffic, there’s a real person—someone doing a difficult, thankless job.
One driver I spoke to told me, “We’re on the road for 10 to 12 hours a day. There’s no working AC, sometimes no brakes. And now they want to fine us when the bus stops working?”
These aren’t just complaints—they’re cries for help. Many of these workers are just trying to make ends meet while navigating traffic, dealing with breakdowns, and answering to a public that (understandably) just wants to reach their destination on time.
This Is Bigger Than Just Rs 300
This story isn’t just about salary deductions. It’s about a deeper, long-standing illness within PMPML.
A lot of their buses are running beyond their life expectancy. Workshops often run out of spare parts. Preventive maintenance is more of a luxury than a routine. All of this points to one thing: a system that’s barely keeping itself together.
So, what does the administration do? Instead of fixing the broken system, it tries to squeeze the people holding it together. That’s not just unfair—it’s backward.
So, What’s Next?
The deduction plan might be on pause, but the core issues are still very much alive. Talks are happening between the administration and the unions. The workers want better maintenance infrastructure, updated fleets, and a fairer work environment.
PMPML says they’re open to revisiting the performance-linked model—but only after addressing internal inefficiencies. Let’s hope that’s not just a line in a press release.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever waited 20 minutes for a PMPML bus that never came, you’ve felt the effects of this broken system. But the fix isn’t as simple as punishing the person behind the wheel. We need real reforms, not band-aids.
This temporary pause shouldn’t be mistaken for a solution. The people of Pune—and the workers who move them—deserve better.
This story matters to me because it’s not just news. It’s the everyday reality for thousands of workers, and for lakhs of us who rely on them. The system is under strain, and unless it’s rebuilt from the ground up, no one—not drivers, not commuters—is getting a smooth ride anytime soon.
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