Pune’s fleet of silent electric buses—operated by PMPML—is causing safety issues as pedestrians and motorists find themselves startled by the near-silent vehicles. In response, PMPML is exploring the integration of an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), originally designed for electric cars, to emit regulated sound and improve road safety.
The move is backed by calls from commuters and former officials urging immediate implementation. PMPML, which runs about 490 e-buses, is also tackling broader concerns about bus reliability and erratic driver behavior by instructing drivers to honk more often, pending a final decision on sound alert tech
