The new routes have come as a blessing in disguise for the faltering finances of the transport body. On the first day, the PCMT earned a revenue of Rs 22,000 as the buses plied during the two shifts in the afternoon. Since Friday when the buses started plying during all the three shifts the PCMT has been earning an average Rs 40,000 from the three routes. PCMT officials were hopeful that the income will increase up to Rs 50,000 in the coming days when more people come to know about the new routes.

The PCMT has deployed 15 buses for the new routes, but it has had an adverse effect on the schedules of other routes. Some long-distance routes have also been affected. The need for the entire rescheduling of buses on all the routes has been felt because the timings of the long-distance routes such as Pune-Kamshet, Pune-Vadgaon, Pune-Talegaon, clashed with the timings of the new routes. Neither the PCMT nor the passengers benefitted from it, said an official. The number of trips on some of the loss-making routes are likely to be reduced. PCMT is planning to ply at least 160 buses instead of the present 145 buses. The process of rescheduling the buses will begin next week after PCMT formally celebrates its silver jubilee year on March 4.

As part of the celebration, a discussion on the services of the PCMT has been organised on March 6. Municipal Commissioner Ganesh Thakur, PCMT general manager Amrut Savant, PMC commissioner Rajiv Agarwal, PMT general manager Prithviraj Bayas have been invited to participate in the discussion.

Meanwhile, the increase in the rates of diesel announced in the Union budget will put a daily financial burden of Rs 15,000 on the PCMT. The PCMT has so far received Rs one crore of the Rs 3.22 crore sanctioned by the parent body, the PCMC.