20 February,2009 04:40 PM IST | | PTI
In a major boost to public transport in the metropolis, the Central government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme has sanctioned Rs 276-crore for city transport unit for purchasing additional buses.
"The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), city's municipal transport unit, will buy about 900 buses using these grants," BEST Committee Chairman Pravin Chheda said.
At present about 4,000 BEST buses are plying through the city roads. "The additional buses will help us serve the passengers more effectively. We will extend our service to neighbouring Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli as well," Chheda added.
"We are also planning to introduce A/C double-deckers buses by April this year for convenience of commuters," Cheda said, adding the BEST has set a target to ply at least 5,000 buses on the city roads by March 2010.
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The Centre had recently started issuing grants to municipal transport units for buying new buses and improve the public transport system. Thane and Navi Mumbai transport units have also applied for grants besides Mumbai transport unit but they are yet to get the sanction.
