Of the 264, Suresh Laxman Shitole is on top with 29 years of accident-free driving, the reply says. The likes of Devidas Govindrao Jadhav, Rajkumar Gajanan Paradkar, Suresh Rajaram Dhume and Narayan Mahadevo Landge have 28 years of service without any mishaps.

Following this exemplary bunch are Vishwasrao Ranoji Modhve, Bharat Nathabuva Salekar, Balu Bhiku Bhosale, Bapur Vitthal Sagle, Kisan Bhikaji Gundal, Sambhaji Dinkar Gawari, Baban Shankar Rakshe, Balasaheb Parshuram Nimbalkar, Chandrakant Sopan Kalane, who have 27 years of accident-free service on the city’s narrow, congested roads.

Three drivers, Kalu Popar Sable, Yeshwant Baban Pawar and Gajanan Bapurao Gaikwad, have been driving for 26 years without getting involved in any accident. There are 14 drivers with 25 years of service, 18 who have put in 24 years, 13 with 23 years of service, 18 who have 22 years, 30 with 21 years, 31 with 20 years and 32 with 19 years of service without any accidents. Of the 264, 10-15 have been promoted to other departments.

“I have been at the streering for nearly 28 years and have not had a single mishap,” says Devidas Jadhav, a resident of Dehugoan. For the last six months, Jadhav, now nearing retirement, has been ferrying PMPML’s stores vehicles. For 10 years, he was on the Dehugaon to Pune station route and for eight years, on Wadgaon to Khadki route, both with heavy traffic. “There is no police complaint or any panchama during my service. Only once, a youngster who hurriedly tried to rush out of the vehicle at Phugewadi in 1983 was injured after he jumped before the bus halted. He suffered bruises. I took him to hospital. He went home without lodging any complaint because he knew it was his fault, not mine,” says Devidas Jadhav.

Though they are proud of their achivement, some of them say they are doing a thankless job. “Though I have been a safe driver, I have never been honoured for such a service,” 56-year-old Jadhav says and breaks down, when asked whether PMPML or his earlier organisation, PCMT, had felicitated him.

His colleague, 53-year-old Suresh Dume, with 28 years of accident-free service, says. “I was never rewarded for safe driving. That is because there was partiality in PCMT. I am sure PMPML will recognise my services.” He is now on the Bhosari-Pune station route.

PMPML spokesperson Deepak Pardeshi says, “Every year, on Republic Day and Independence Day, we felicitate 10 safe drivers. All drivers who excel in that particular year are honoured.”

PMPML’s accidents department head Sanjay Kulaskar says the unique record of the 264 drivers speaks for itself. Criticising PMPML, Ajay Anpur, general secretary of a PMPML union, says, “Only drivers who are on actually a route should be honoured. But that is not happening...”