Pune: The newly constructed bus station in Baramati, built at a cost of approximately Rs 50 crore, is facing significant operational challenges.
Despite being inaugurated on March 2, the depot and other basic facilities are still not functional, resulting in financial losses for the state transport corporation and inconvenience for passengers.
Operations Continue from MIDC Depot
Although the modern bus station was completed, the operations of the Baramati depot are still managed from the MIDC depot, located seven kilometers away. This distance results in additional diesel costs, with daily travel of 14 kilometers just for parking.
The Baramati depot operates 84 buses, incurring thousands of rupees in expenses each day. The delay in buses arriving from MIDC to the new bus station is also causing passenger delays.
Refueling Challenges
Five months after the inauguration, the diesel and CNG pumps at the new bus station are still not operational, forcing buses to refuel at MIDC and wasting valuable time.
Vacant Shops and Financial Impact
Out of 43 new shops built at the bus station, only five have been allocated to the previous business owners, leaving the remaining shops closed for the last five months. The absence of auctions for these shops is contributing to financial losses for the transport corporation.
Unused Driver and Conductor Facilities
Despite excellent facilities being provided for drivers and conductors at the bus station, these rest areas are not yet in use, further highlighting the incomplete utilization of the new bus station.
