Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) experienced a surge in passenger numbers during this year’s Ganesh festival, as millions of devotees and visitors opted for public transportation to reach the heart of the city’s bustling markets and view the grand Ganpati decorations.
Over 1.28 crore passengers utilized PMPML’s bus services during the 11-day festival period, from September 7 to September 17, generating an impressive ₹17.43 crore in revenue.
The annual Ganesh festival is one of Pune’s most celebrated events, drawing large crowds not only from across Maharashtra but also from various parts of India and even abroad.
The vibrant celebrations bring life to the city’s markets and central areas, but they also result in severe traffic congestion. With long vehicle queues and limited parking, many citizens found it more convenient to leave their private vehicles at home or park near bus stops, choosing PMPML’s affordable bus service for their transportation needs.
PMPML’s bus network, which provides direct access to the city’s central areas, became the preferred option for many festival-goers. To manage the increased demand, PMPML added over 250 additional buses to its fleet, with around 1,400 to 1,700 buses operating on various routes daily during the festival.
This increased passenger volume translated into a significant revenue boost for PMPML. On average, the daily earnings ranged from ₹1.5 crore to ₹1.9 crore, with daily passenger numbers reaching between 10 lakh and 13 lakh.
The total revenue over the 11 days amounted to ₹17.43 crore, which was ₹51.41 lakh more than the ₹16.92 crore earned during the previous year’s Ganesh festival.
However, PMPML faced some challenges. The immersion day, traditionally one of the busiest days of the festival, saw a shift in passenger preference. Due to road closures for the immersion processions, many passengers chose to travel via the metro, which offered uninterrupted access to the city’s central areas.
This resulted in a slight dip in PMPML’s revenue on the final day, but overall, the festival period was a financial success for the transportation body.
PMPML Performance during Ganesh festival:
Total buses in operation: 17,093
Total passengers: 1.28 crore
Total revenue: ₹17.43 crore