07 April,2010 12:11 PM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Decision to buy 200 buses with doors on right side makes civic panel chairman threaten PMPML split
There seems to be a tug-of-war on the right thing to do with the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML). And it goes beyond just procuring 200 right-side-door buses as suggested by Dilip Band, Managing Director, PMPML.
In a PMPML committee meeting on Monday, Band formally announced the sanction of funds for 200 buses with right-side doors for the city.
Mayor Mohan Singh Rajpal also gave his consent for the right-hand door buses.
This upset Arvind Shinde, PMC standing committee chairman, who has warned of splitting PMPML back into Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT) if the buses are procured.
The PMT and PCMT were merged four years ago by Congress and NCP state government to form PMPML.
Shinde said that the idea of right hand door buses is not practical as the buses stop on the left hand side of
the road.
Shinde mentioned that he didn"t like the way in which the mayor has supported the issue.u00a0
He said, "I don"t want to comment on mayor Rajpal"s support because I value the post of the mayor."
"Instead of paying the money to PMPML, we are placing the order of left hand door buses. The buses will ply on roads as per our wish," said Shinde. "It is in the interest of the citizens of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad."
Mayor Rajpal refused to comment on the statement issued by Shinde. He said that he would speak only after discussing the issue with Shinde.
