Aluminium body frames to replace fibre bodies of buses in Pune, India

Deemed a major security hazard, transport body in Pune is now replacing fibre parts with aluminium or other metal. After a spate of recent road accidents, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mandal Limited (PMPML) has now taken up commuters' safety on a priority basis and started removing seats and other fibre body parts of several buses at the Swargate depot.

"We need to think about whether to go for the same fibre bodies or the buses with aluminium body frames. The ones with fibre seats and other fibre parts are dangerous, especially considering the recent incident of fire at Shivajinagar. Our engineering department will be studying this," said T S Dharurkar, the transport body's general manager (operation and engineering).

Currently, of the 1, 200 buses owned by PMPML, 489 CNG buses have fibre bodies, while another 85, belonging to Leyland company are of aluminium. In case of the Shivajinagar fire, a CNG fibre-bodied bus was involved. Elaborating on the modification work going on at the Swargate depot, maintenance engineer S B Khedkar, said, "We are now modifying SEGL Euro III diesel buses, of which only 48 are at the Swargate depot. These buses are short in length and their route is mainly within the Peth areas.

All these buses come up with fibre seats, fibre front show (part covering the engine in front) and fibre bumpers at the front and back of the bus. The front bumper and the rear of the bus have electrical wiring so they can easily catch fire. And, it can spread all over the bus due to the fibre seats inside. So, we are now removing the fibre seats and replacing them with aluminium seats with cushions. Also the front part and bumper are being replaced with steel or aluminium rods."

Jugal Rathi, president of PMP Pravasi Manch, said, "Till now, around 100 passengers have died due to various structural defects in the buses, including the fibre body parts. The focus needs to be on the safety of commuters. Every bus should be passenger-friendly. Purchasing fibre-bodied buses was a completely wrong decision. Public money should be used better."