Unfit PMPML bus is RTO’s mobile office

RTO launches office-on-wheels to issue licences, sees nothing wrong in using 15-year-old vehicle taken off roads by city bus service because of its age

Unfit PMPML bus is RTO's mobile office

RTO launches office-on-wheels to issue licences, sees nothing wrong in using 15-year-old vehicle taken off roads by city bus service because of its age

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Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan a couple of days ago launched a Regional Transport Office mobile van that will issue learning licences, but what he probably did not know was that the vehicle had been scrapped by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) from its fleet because it was no longer thought fit to be on the roads after 15 years of service.

Office on wheels: CM Chavan launches the RTO mobile office

Now licence-seekers will receive instructions on how to drive safely in a bus that will be moving around the city though it is not considered roadworthy by an organisation that has been handling buses for years.

RTO officials were also not able to produce necessary certificates for the vehicle (MH12 R0213) like RC, TC, PUC, Roadworthiness Certificate, among other papers.

Asked about these documents at the launch venue, Chandrakant Kharatmal, Regional Transport Officer, Pune, said: "We have forgotten the documents at the RTO office."

When reminded that RTO officers fine the common man if he does not carry the necessary documents for his vehicle, he just smiled.

Sunil Burse, Chief Engineer of PMPML, said the bus was given away as any bus that has been in use for 15 years is taken off the roads.

"Yes, we have gifted this bus to the RTO. We scrap any bus after 15 years of use. If we need the bus, we generally ask the RTO to certify it for its fitness before reusing it," said Burse. "The PMPML number of the donated bus is 118. If you want more details, you have to ask questions in writing. It will take two days to give you these details."

Giving technical details of the bus converted by the RTO for use as its mobile office, Rajesh Kudale, Depot Maintenance Engineer of PMPML, said: "This is a bus of 1995 make. It was selected to for a 'scrap down'.

Before scrapping any bus, we remove all working parts for use during repairs of other buses. For some reason, RTO officers disqualified a bus we earlier chose for it. We had even removed all the seats from that bus and made the required alterations. But they chose an Ashok Leyland Viking bus. We then made the necessary alterations again for this bus. We have to now convert the bus we first modified into a material van. This bus was with us for at least eight days at the Central Workshop at Swargate Depot for body work, before going to the Nigdi workshop for necessary alterations to fit the computers."

Besides the age of the bus, questions have also been raised over the gifting of the bus to the RTO by the PMPML.

'Why give it free?'
"PMPML does not have enough money to implement the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for its workers, but it is doing charity by giving away its buses," said a person at the launch function, requesting anonymity.
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"This is ridiculous."

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said it was criminal on the part of the PMPML to gift away buses.

"On whose authority did the PMPML give away its bus to the RTO? Every year the PMPML begs for more funds from the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. This is people's money.

Giving a scrapped bus to an initiative which will help future drivers how to drive safely is a crime. We have filed police complaints against PMPML and the RTO."

Jugal Rathi, president, PMP Pravasi Manch, said PMPML should charge the RTO for the bus.

"PMPML is working on citizen's money. Why is it giving away this bus without getting money from the RTO? It should charge for that bus," said Rathi.

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