Pay at least Rs 2 more for your bus ride in Navi Mumbai

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) finally seems to be trying to save itself from making further losses, and is gearing up to revamp its image.

NMMT has also finalised a plot at Ghansoli for a new depot for parking. File pic

Since more than a year, the loss-making transport body was not increasing fares due to political pressure; however, sources have now revealed that NMMT has received a nod from the state government for a fare hike. "The proposal for fare hike has been approved by the Chief Minister and will be implemented at the earliest," said a source from NMMT.

This means that fare of ordinary buses will go up by Rs 2, while that of AC buses would increase by Rs 5-10. This will have deeper impact on those travelling on popular AC bus routes to Bandra and Borivli.

The proposal for fare hike was hanging since a year, while the transport body was suffering a loss of R5-6 lakh per day. Another reason for the loss being that many of its routes ran empty, following which NMMT had to scrap several of them.

Face lift
In order to revamp its image, NMMT has upgraded its website for commuters to avail of fare and route details, concessions, important announcements and projects. In addition to that, the transport body has various plans for a facelift of its operational style.

NMMT is mulling over introducing an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and e-ticketing, and will invite tenders for contractors on Gross Cost Contract (GCC) to run its services on contract basis. This will mean contracts will be given for maintenance of the buses.

"We have recently upgraded our website so that commuters get all the necessary information regarding our routes and bus timings. In addition, e-ticketing is in the final stage and would be introduced very soon," said Bhanudas Veer, a senior official from NMMT.

New depot for parking
NMMT has finalised a 7-acre plot in Ghansoli for constructing a new depot. Officials say that the new facility would help in saving fuel cost, as the buses now have to make trips to Turbhe and Asudgaon depots near Panvel after finishing their daily trips, for parking.

The new depot would be opened within a year and would cost around Rs 15 crore. At present, the transport body has 382 drivers and 420 conductors that run a fleet of 360 buses including Volvos covering 47 routes across Navi Mumbai and neighbouring cities.