A report on

PMPML bus drivers survey

Prepared by :-

Malkesh Patel, PGDM I (2010-11)

Shravan Nishant, PGDM I (2010-11)
Akash Jain, PGDM I (2010-11)
Kishore Panda, PGDM I (2010-11)
Arpit Shukla, PGDM I (2010-11)
Prof. Abhijeet Shivane, Faculty In-charge

Guided by :- Dr. Susheel Kandalgaonkar, Director, IMDR Pune

INDEX

S.No.

Topic

Context

Page
No.
3

Methodology

Findings & Interpretation

5-22

Report on Presentation delivered 23

on 4th Feb 2012

Acknowledgement

IMDR Pune 2011-12

A report on PMPML bus drivers survey

Day by day transportation is becoming difficult in Pune city. Public transport service has
been neglected and there is an unprecedented growth in private vehicles. There is a need
to strengthen public transport service. Therefore from social point of view the students of
IMDR have conducted a survey of PMPML bus drivers.

Context:Numbers of news items are published in various newspapers regarding the PMPML bus
service. Most of the news describes the complaints of passengers about the bus failure or
bus accident. At the first instance passengers blame the bus drivers and sometimes in
anger they beat the bus driver. Nobody goes into the root cause analysis of bus accident
or bus failure. Even the news reporters always give news from the point of view of
passengers. This survey is an attempt to know the other side of the coin. The bus drivers
were interviewed to know their views about the bus driving, roads, traffic, and their
working conditions.
This report shares the findings and interpretation of the survey.

IMDR Pune 2011-12

METHODOLOGY

Questionnaire was designed in English & translated in Hindi & Marathi.

The survey was conducted by 36 students from PGDM1.

179 PMPML bus drivers were interviewed.

The survey conducted at two depots (Kothrud Bus depot & Narvir Tanaji wadi
Bus Depot).

Each Bus driver interviewed by pair of students, one student took the interview of
the driver and other student noted down the views mentioned by the driver.

Data was tabulated.

Findings and interpretation were recorded.

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Findings:-

Basic Data :
179 respondents (bus drivers) were interviewed.

Average age of respondents was found to be of 40 years.

Average work experience of respondents was found to be 12 years.

95% respondents stated that they work for 8 to 10 hours in a day.

Average number of family members in respondents family was found to be
six.

Average number of earning members in a family was found to be one.

IMDR Pune 2011-12

Following are the findings of the survey:Table 1

Q- Do you get your salary regularly in
every month?

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of
Employee
177
0
2
179

Percentage
98.88
0.00
1.12

Interpretation:
99% respondents stated that monthly salary is paid on time.1% respondents stated
that they do not get salary on time.

IMDR Pune 2011-12

Table 2
Q. Are you asked to do overtime
work?
Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes

No. Of Employee
78
40
61

Total

179

Percentage
43.58
22.35
34.08

Interpretation:
44% respondents stated that they have to do overtime frequently.

IMDR Pune 2011-12

Table 3
Q. If Yes, How many hours?

Overtime hours
A) 0-2
B) 2-4
C) 4-6
D) 6-8
E) 8-10

No. Of Employee
59
36
11
4
24
TOTAL
134

Percentage
(%)
44.02
26.86
8.20
2.98
17.91

Interpretation:

44% respondents stated that they are working for 0 to 2 hours extra in a day.
18% respondents stated that they are asked to do overtime for 8 to 10 hours in a
day.

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Table 4
Q- Do you find overtime work stressful?
Observations
A) Yes
B) No
Total

No. Of
Employee
124
41
165

Interpretation:

75% respondents stated that overtime is stressful.

IMDR Pune 2011-12

Percentage
75.15
24.85

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Table 5
Q- Do you find overtime work tiring?
Observations
A) Yes
B) No
Total

No. Of
Employee
138
27
165

Interpretation:

84% respondents stated that overtime is tiring.

IMDR Pune 2011-12

Percentage
83.64
16.36

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Table 6
Q- Do you get adequate time for meals & rest
in the scheduled working hours?
Observations
A) Yes
B) No
Total

No. Of Employee
84
95
179

Percentage
46.93
53.07

Interpretation: 53% respondents stated that they do not get adequate time for meals and rest in
the scheduled working hours.

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Table 7
Q-Are you provided with facility of staff room to take meals & to take rest at bus stands or depots?
Observations
A) At all places
B) At some places
C) Rarely
D) No where

No. Of Employee
19
47
108
4
178

Percentage
10.67
26.40
60.67
2.25

Interpretation:

61% respondents stated that they are not provided with facility of staff room to
take meals and to take rest in any of the bus stand or depot.

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Table 8
Q-Do you have toilets at various bus
stands?
Observations
A) At all places
B) At some places
C) Rarely
Total

No. Of
Employee
49
56
72
177

Percentage
27.68
31.64
40.68

Interpretation:

41% respondents stated that the toilet facility is rarely available in bus stands.

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Table 9
Q- Do you find driver's seat
comfortable?
Observations
A) Comfortable in all the buses
B) Comfortable in some buses
C) Comfortable in rare buses
Total

No. Of
Employee
23
66
89
178

Percentage
12.92
37.08
50.00

Interpretation:

50% respondents stated that drivers seat is comfortable in very few buses and
37% respondents stated that drivers seat is comfortable in some buses.

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Table 10
Q- Do you have to face some technical
problems in the bus while driving it?

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of
Employee
113
11
52
176

Percentage
64.20
6.25
29.55

Interpretation:

64% respondents stated that they to face technical problems in bus while driving
it.
30% respondents stated that sometimes they have to face technical problem in bus
while driving it.

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Table 11
Q-Do you find frequent failure of
buses?

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of
Employee
57
20
100
177

Percentage
32.20
11.30
56.50

Interpretation:

32% respondents stated that there is frequent failure of buses.

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Table 12
Q- Do you think undisciplined driving by other vehicle
drivers is the cause of bus accident?
No. Of
Employee
113
20
43
176

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

Percentage
64.20
11.36
24.43

Interpretation:

64% respondents stated that undisciplined driving by other vehicle drivers is the
cause of bus accident.

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Table 13
Q-Do you think bus drivers drive the
bus rashly?

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of
Employee
52
69
58
179

Percentage
29.05
38.55
32.40

Interpretation:

29% respondents stated that bus drivers drive the bus rashly.

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Table 14
Q-Do you think passengers entering when the bus is in transit
is the cause of bus accident?

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of
Employee
155
4
20
179

Percentage
86.59
2.23
11.17

Interpretation:

87% respondents stated that passengers entering when the bus is in transit is the
cause of bus accident.

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Table 15

Q-Do you think that passengers getting down

the bus is in transit is the cause of bus
accident?
Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of Employee
153
6
20
179

Percentage
85.47
3.35
11.17

86% respondents stated that the passengers getting down the bus is in transit is the
cause of bus accident.

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Table 16
Q- Do you think automated closing doors
would be a solution to the problem stated
above?

Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of Employee
144
17
18
179

Percentage
80.45
9.50
10.06

Interpretation:

80.5 % respondents stated that automated closing doors for buses would be a
solution to the problem stated in the last two questions.

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Table 17
Q- Do you think unavailability of footpath
for people walking on roads is the cause of
accident?
Observations
A) Yes
B) No
C) Sometimes
Total

No. Of Employee
136
9
33
178

Percentage
76.40
5.06
18.54

Interpretation:

76% respondents stated that the unavailability of footpath for people walking on
roads is the cause of accident.

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Q-18 Are you provided training according to your job requirement?

Observations
A) Frequently
B) Sometimes
C) Rarely
D) Never
Total

No. Of
Employee
45
80
52
2
179

Percentage
25.14
44.69
29.05
1.12

29% respondents stated that training is provided to them for very few times.

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Discussion with students after PMPML Survey presentation

Participants:- Mr. Deepak Pardeshi, Labour & Public Relation Officer, PMPML,
Mr. Vivek Velankar, Chairman, Sajag Nagrik Manch, IMDR Faculty Members &
Students.
Mr.Pardeshi: - Let me know your views about PMPML. After conducting the survey
what are your observations and conclusions?
Student: -Before conducting the survey we used to think about ourselves. We used to
think that why the bus drivers are not stopping the bus? We were not aware about the
problems faced by the bus drivers. We used to think that only bus drivers are responsible
for bus accidents. During the survey we had discussed many things with bus drivers and
our opinion changed. Now we could recognize their problems very well.
Mr.Pardeshi: - The bus drivers have raised their problems. In your opinion what are the
short term and long term remedies for these problems? Give your suggestions from the
point of view of management. How to improve service including bus drivers?
Student: To maintain the buses in good conditions.
Bus drivers can be provided with sufficient time for taking lunch.
PMPML buses are overloaded. People run for catching the bus. This could be avoided.
There is no Staff room facility available at Narvir Tanaji depot.
We should create awareness about traffic rules for example people should use footpath
and give free roads to drivers.
Providing Comfortable seats to drivers.
Replacement of old buses.
Increasing the strength of drivers to avoid over time work
Providing buses exclusively for women.
Automated closing doors should be repaired.
Mr.Pardeshi: - You shared many things which are sounding like complaints. Whatever
you described is the fact. Now you tell me why are the things happening like this?
Guest: - Management is not taking care of drivers.
Mr.Pardeshi: -Who is the decision maker and what should happen? Suppose you are the
decision maker. What will you do?
Student: - There should be co-ordination between management and bus drivers.
Mr.Pardeshi: -See, there is coordination. I know we must provide uniform to all the bus
drivers. When will I do it? When we have sufficient money, then only this can be done.
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Student: - Increase the bus fare.
Mr.Velankar: - Already our bus ticket fare is high in comparison to other cities. Even if
bus ticket charges increase it will not lead to increase in revenue. It affects in other way
round. If prices go up, revenue goes down because lot of passengers will stop using
PMPML bus service. The class which goes with PMPML cant afford high cost therefore
PMPML cant go for high bus fare. See its a very complex situation.
I want some good suggestions and thoughts from you as management students.
Student: - In long distance travel, there is no need of conductor, driver can collect money
and issue tickets. By this we can do cost cutting.
Mr.Pardeshi: - When we go with new things it will automatically increase expenditure.
If I go for electronic ticket machine it will lead to increase in expenditure.
We get air tickets at home why dont we go online?
In public organizations decision making is slow in comparison to private organizations.
Mr.Velankar:When you study a project, my suggestion is study the topic in depth. I know that basic
facilities like lavatory to drivers, uniform for drivers; facility for taking lunch must be
provided to drivers. Why these things dont happen? You are all management students.
What does this show? Poor management! Have you studied what is the management of
PMPML? Which is the director board of PMPML? Anybody knows? There lies the
solution.
Friends I request you, being MBA students go through all aspects of organization and
management. And then come out with your report you will have better findings and better
suggestions only when based on very strong plat form of unbiased data. Please do that.
Dr. Kandalgaonkar: -Your suggestions are well taken. Focus was on the survey.
Definitely survey has lot of limitations. This was conducted by first year students. They
are just introduced to management subjects. It requires diagnostic studies and diagnostic
studies require perspective. This kind of study is possible only in public sector
organization. I must appreciate the openness for allowing us to conduct interviews. I
doubt whether private sector would have allowed us to conduct such studies. Secondly as
you rightly said it is the question of management. The major force today is civil society.
They are pushing management in a better way. Again I appreciate the openness and
participation shown by PMPML authorities.
Prof. Shivane:- The survey was designed by faculty members. The field study was
carried out by the students. The suggestions given by Mr.Velankar would be useful for
studying the subject research methodology.
Message from Mrs. Leena Mehendale, IAS , Member Administration, CAT Banglore &
renowned writer:Dear shri Kandalgaonkar and shri shivane.
First of all I congratulate you for this experiment on quick-survey methodology that
needs to be developed as a desirable and usable skill among college-students.
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I am sure that students who have participated in this survey would get a different
insight on assessing problems and solutions in the implementation. For example here we
find that most drivers are not getting proper rest -- then if they cause accident, the safety
of passengers is compromised. This definitely gives a new perspective to the students.
They learn to look at the human side of various problems. I wish all the success to you
for future schemes too and let me express once again my desire to remain associated with
your institute in these endeavors.
Hearty Thanks to:

Mrs. Leena Mehendale, I.A.S., Member Administration, CAT Banglore &

renowned writer.
Mr Deepak Pardeshi, L.P.R.O., PMPML Head office, Swargate, Pune.
Mr. Vikram Shitole, Depot Manager, Narvir Tanaji wadi
Mr. Satish Gate, Depot Manager, Kothrud.
Director and Faculty members of IMDR, Pune.

IMDR Pune 2011-12