Navi Mumbai: After around nine months of an accident of a Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus that killed one in Uran and the bus services were stopped since then, NMMT has now relaunched two routes.
After the accident in the month of February this year, the driver of the bus was assaulted by the villagers and also kept hostage along with other NMMT officer who reached the spot.
According to the officers of NMMT, the villagers had also made the NMMT officer sign a document with unreasonable demands of compensation and job in NMMT for the kin of the deceased. Due to this lack of security, the bus service to Uran was discontinued.
“After frequent demand from the residents of Uran, we have finally restarted two routes for them,” Yogesh Kaduskar, NMMT General Manager, said. The bus that met with the accident was route number 34 which functioned between Jui Nagar and Uran via Khopta wherein the accident happened.
NMMT completely discontinued routes 30, 31, and 34 connecting Uran to Koparkhairane, Juinagar Railway Station,and Kalamboli respectively. The residents were dependent on local trains for commuting out of Uran and were finding it difficult as the train frequency is very less in the Uran route.
The relaunched routes are route number 30 and 31. Route 30 would run between Roadpali and Uran via Kalamboli and route 31 would run between Koparkhairane and Uran.
The new routes were started from Wednesday and according to the officials, the response to the route is good. Meanwhile, NMMT staff have told that they have been hesitant in going to Uran due to lack of basic facilities.
“There is no proper bus stop, no bus depot and no washrooms for the staff. During any such untoward incident, there is no protection as well for us,” one of the officials said. NMMT has now also written to Uran Municipal Council requesting to fulfill the demands of the staff.
