No ease up in fatal accidents: 60 killed in PMPML bus crashes since 2024

Since 2024, a grim reality has emerged in Pune: fatal bus accidents involving the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) transport utility have not shown any signs of abating. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, PMPML buses were involved in 61 accidents that resulted in 24 deaths, 21 serious injuries, and 18 minor injuries. The following year, 2025-26, saw a decrease in the total number of accidents to 43, yet 25 lives were still lost in these crashes, one more than the previous year, coupled with 24 serious injuries.

A concerning pattern has come to light: while the overall number of accidents has dropped, the frequency of fatal accidents has risen. In the current fiscal year, from April to August 2026, PMPML buses were involved in 23 accidents, claiming 11 lives and leaving 10 people seriously injured. The majority of these incidents were caused by private contractor-operated buses, accounting for 16 accidents, with 9 deaths and 7 serious injuries, compared to 7 accidents, 2 deaths, and 3 serious injuries involving corporation-owned buses.

The corporation, which operates around 684 buses with 2,364 drivers, and private contractors operate 1,277 buses with 3,214 drivers. Daily commuters have echoed the sentiment, citing rampant instances of reckless driving. IT professional Rohit Chothe, who travels from Shahu Nagar to Yerawada daily, has observed drivers operating buses roughly, particularly at intersections where BRT lanes open to mixed traffic.

He has witnessed numerous near misses and minor accidents due to drivers disregarding traffic signals and pedestrian crossings. Chothe emphasized the need for stricter enforcement against errant drivers, calling for action to be taken to prevent further loss of innocent lives. PMPML has acknowledged the issue and is actively working on driver training.

Chief Transport Manager Yashwant Hinge stated that both corporation-owned and contractor-operated drivers have undergone training at the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) and are currently being trained by 'Synergy' under a corporate social responsibility activity. He mentioned that over 2,000 drivers have been trained so far, with a focus on safe driving practices, identifying black spots, and adhering to traffic rules.

However, Hinge emphasized that not every accident is solely the fault of the driver, and investigations into each case determine the appropriate action, which may include suspending a driver for a month or dismissing them entirely, depending on the severity of the incident. Dashcams are being proposed to further investigate the causes of accidents, though approval from the board of directors is still pending.