Pune’s much-anticipated double-decker bus trial by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has failed to attract passengers, largely due to an unexpectedly steep fare of ₹100 for just a 4-kilometre ride.

Introduced to gather public feedback and test feasibility, the buses were seen running nearly empty across central Pune, as the cost proved too high for commuters. Many expected free or at least nominally priced rides during the trial.

“I wanted to try the upper deck, but ₹100 for such a short distance doesn’t make sense,” said Satish Pawar, a student. Regular commuter Rohini Jadhav echoed the sentiment, calling the fare impractical and suggesting PMPML should have kept it affordable to encourage participation.

The trial, running for 10 days on routes like Swargate to Pimpri

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