Navi Mumbai: The abrupt cancellation of Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) buses to the Mumbai’s World Trade Centre (WTC) in Cuffe Parade from Navi Mumbai continues to cause major hardship for daily commuters. Despite repeated requests and representations to NMMT officials and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Commissioner, no action has been taken to reinstate the crucial morning peak-hour services.
Originally, four buses were operational on each route from Navi Mumbai to WTC. However, the recent cutback to just one or two buses per route has severely disrupted the travel plans of commuters, leaving them high and dry.
Rush in NMMT buses after cancellation of key route buses |
Among the most vocal critics is practicing advocate Mr. Shyam Kalyankar, a regular commuter on route No. 108’s second bus, now cancelled. After a telephonic discussion with Mr. Sunil Jagtap, Depot Manager at Turbhe NMMT bus depot, Mr. Kalyankar warned of approaching the Bombay High Court over the sudden service termination. The depot manager reportedly cited mounting losses and a lack of funds as reasons behind the decision.
When questioned about the impact of the 50 per cent fare reduction for female passengers, the official clarified that it was a mandate from the State Government and could not be reversed without official approval. However, this policy has inadvertently triggered a standoff between the State Government and NMMT, leaving daily commuters stuck in the crossfire.
Several frustrated passengers attempted to reach NMMT General Manager Mr. Yogesh Kaduskar and NMMC Chief Dr. Kailas Shinde for clarification but received no response.
Female Commuters Willing To Pay Full Fare To Avoid Inconvenience
Interestingly, many regular female commuters stated they are willing to pay full fare, insisting they never demanded a discount. Meanwhile, commuters have raised serious allegations against NMMT, accusing it of colluding with private bus operators. They believe bribes were paid to eliminate certain South Mumbai routes, pushing commuters towards private travel options.
Details On Cancelled Buses
To add to their woes, the NMMT website has failed to accurately reflect the revised schedule, misleading passengers further. With no formal notification issued about the cancellations, specifically of buses 110/1 from Kharghar at 7:10 am, 106/1 from Panvel at 7:20 am, and 108/2 from Nerul at 8:00 am, commuters were left to rely on a Telegram group for updates.
The switch from the more comfortable VOLVO buses to crowded Blue Electric buses has only added to passenger discomfort. Left with no choice, many commuters now plan to take the political route to pressure NMMT into restoring services.
