PUNE: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has denied a request to increase bus connectivity to the Pune airport “At present, the PMPML operates two air-conditioned buses from Pune airport to Hinjewadi Phase-3 and back. There are eight trips per day, starting at 7.15am. We cannot add more buses now as we do not have the required numbers,” said PMPML chairman and managing director Nayana Gunde.The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had asked PMPML to deploy extra buses from different places in Pune to the airport, and also to ensure electric buses connect the airport However, PMPML sources said this was not an outright refusal. “The PMPML is positive about AAI’s request. Recently, a team went to the airport for a survey. However, the transport body has very few AC buses. PMPML was to procure more AC buses, but that tender was scrapped. Now a fresh tender has been floated to acquire 550 new buses, including 150 AC electric buses. Once these buses are added, the airport bus connectivity can be strengthened,” a PMPML official said.The transport body runs 10 AC buses on select routes. Two have been reserved for the ‘Pune Darshan’ service, while the rest ply on three routes — Hinjewadi to the airport, Katraj to Nigdi and Hadapsar to Nigdi. Last week, the PMPML had submitted a proposal to slash fares on these buses in a bid to increase passenger traffic.PMPML officials said they will be able to add AC buses to its fleet, should they get funds from its stakeholders — the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies and the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority. “We have seen that AC buses are popular in areas like Hinjewadi, Hadapsar and Vadgaonsheri, which are IT hubs,” an official said.

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