Maharashtra: CM Eknath Shinde dedicates 5,150 electric buses to MSRTC fleet

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday dedicated 5150 airconditioned electric buses to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC fleet as per the PTIAddressing a gathering at the Khopat bus depot in Thane CM Shinde called for improvements in all ST bus depots in the state to ensure better passenger amenities and announced surprise inspections to monitor progress according to the PTIThe addition of 5150 electric buses to the MSRTC fleet marks a significant step towards modernisation and environmental sustainability he said while reiterating the importance of transitioning from diesel to LNG buses to reduce pollutionCM Eknath Shinde assured prompt resolution of pending issues concerning MSRTC workers and staff and emphasised the importance of competing effectively with private bus operatorsCM Shinde also emphasised the importance of extending ebus and AC bus services to rural areas of the stateMeanwhileMaharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Tuesday inaugurated the PanvelShil Phata flyover on NH48 Old Mumbai Pune Highway the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA saidAccording to an official statement the road at Kalyan Phata Junction is being heavily utilised and the projects of infrastructure development that are underway in the surrounding regions are bound to result in furthermore elevation of traffic The flyover is anticipated to make a valiant contribution toward traffic decongestion at NH48 by regulating traffic movements from JNPT and Thane Moreover people who frequent this route will start saving a significant proportion of their time and money in addition to reducing their regular fuel consumptionCM Shinde said MMRDA is making huge and successful leaps toward infrastructure development and sustainability through a series of ambitious and innovative projects from time to time This flyover is one of the intuitive projects that are essential in redefining transportation infrastructure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR and I feel elated to have inaugurated this brilliant endeavourThe Shil Phata flyover in its entirety is equipped with 3 3 lanes covering a total width of 24 metres and it extends for a length of 7395 metres The length of the viaduct is 300 metres while the approach toward the Mumbra side A1 and the approach at the Panvel side A2 are of lengths 2715 metres and 1680 metres respectively The cost of this project was estimated to be around Rs 4568 Crores It constitutes a dual carriageway with each arm facilitating 3 separate lanes adding up to a width of 12 metres One arm of the dual carriageway will serve Panvel Bound traffic whereas the other arm will ensure the smooth movement of Thane Bound traffic As the inauguration enables the utilisation of the Panvel Bound flyover the Thane Bound flyover is eagerly anticipated to be inaugurated within the next two monthswith PTI inputs