Passengers board NMMT buses on Atal Setu routes after fare reduction sparks increased ridership and revenue | File Photo
Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has seen more than 200% income on Atal Setu marg since last week after slashing the rates of the ticket by over 50%. Per ride via Atal Setu marg used to earn around Rs 1600 which has now gone upto Rs 5000 per ride.
“Even the passengers have increased on this route. Initially we used to get around 20 to 22 passengers per ride, now it has gone upto 77 passengers,” NMMT Manager Yogesh Kaduskar, said.
Even with the high toll on the Atal Setu marg, NMMT had introduced two routes, 116 and 117, last year in the month of September. Both the routes are operational from Monday to Saturday. While the travel duration of route number 116 which starts from Nerul to Mantralaya is around 100 minutes, route number 117 which starts from sector 35 at Kharghar to Mantralaya takes around 115 minutes.
The earlier fare of route number 116 was Rs 230 which is now Rs 95 and for the route number 117, the previous fare was Rs 270 which is now Rs 120. The minimum fare at both routes were Rs 30 and is now slashed to Rs 10. “Making the journey more affordable for people was the intention behind slashing of the rates,” Kaduskar added.
Route number 116 starts the journey from Nerul bus depot, cover parts of Ulwe, Kharkopar and via Atal setu to Mantralay. Likewsie the bus route no 117 starts from sector 35, Kharghar, Panvel ST stand, and goes through Karanjade phata, Ghavan toll naka before taking the Atal Setu bridge to culminate at Mantralay. Atal Setu bridge that connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai is India’s largest sea bridge that was inaugurated in the month of Janauary last year.
NMMT is hopeful that as the word passes about the slashing of the rates, more passenger would take the journey on this route.
