Pune: PMPML’s safety directive appears to be falling on deaf ears, days after a 25-year-old woman fell to her death from an overcrowded bus.Several buses continue to ply with one or both doors open, even as Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has instructed drivers and conductors to ensure that doors remain shut while buses are in motion.The directive was issued to all depot managers after Kanchan Balwant Khadda, a student of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), died on Aug 24 after falling from an overcrowded bus on Sinhagad Road. The accident triggered a flurry of instructions, including a strict order to keep bus doors closed while moving.Yet, commuters say little appears to have changed on the ground.“I was travelling from Swargate to Pune railway station on Monday evening this week, when I noticed that the conductor made no effort to close either door. The bus wasn’t overcrowded and he had enough time to do it, but he was sitting and fiddling with his phone,” commuter Sarthak Patnaik told TOI.When Patnaik questioned the conductor about the recent accident and the instructions issued by PMPML, the latter said he was tired and asked how he could check and distribute tickets if he had to keep closing the doors. He also claimed the hydraulic mechanism used to operate the doors was not functioning.PMPML chairperson and managing director (CMD) Mahesh Awhad said violators would face action. “Checkers have been asked to conduct inspections. Violations will invite show cause notices for the driver, conductor or both. Repeated violations could lead to suspension or dismissal, apart from fines. We will ensure the rule is followed strictly,” he said.Daily commuter Dheeraj Mandok said he saw several buses with open doors on MG Road last Sunday, including crowded buses. “I haven’t seen the directive being followed strictly. PMPML needs to conduct ground checks to find out whether the regulation is actually being followed or has become mere lip service,” he said.Regular commuter Romesh Sadne said, “The problem mainly happens during evenings and late evenings. On any given day, many buses can be seen at all times of the day with open doors. It is clear that the drivers and conductors are not serious about it.”With intermittent rain adding to the risks faced by commuters, passengers said basic safety measures could not be compromised.Asha Patil, a govt employee from Kondhwa, said the front door should remain shut while the bus is moving, even if the rear door has to remain open while passengers board. “Conductors don’t care and neither do the authorities. Around two years ago, I almost fell from a bus when the driver moved while passengers were still getting off at a bus stop. They are always in a hurry, and it reflects on the training they have received,” she said.Similarly, frequent PMPML user Prasad Kande said, “The drivers can be seen talking on phones while at the wheel many times. Most of them look tired because of the heavy traffic situation and are not alert. They don’t care about making sure that doors are closed while the bus is moving.”PMPML officials said all buses were equipped with hydraulic door systems, with drivers responsible for operating them and conductors expected to alert drivers. “We will check if the hydraulic systems are functioning properly across buses. Keeping the doors shut while moving is not difficult if the staff remain alert and serious about commuter safety,” an official said.
