NAGPUR: Ahead of the Diwali festivity, here's a dampener. Nagpur Mahanagar Parivahan Ltd (NMPL), which oversees the city bus service that transports around 1.60 lakh commuters every day, has allowed the private operator to increase fares. The minimum fare will rise from Re 1 to Rs 2. The hike became inevitable after the diesel prices went up in September.
The board of NMPL on Friday ayed a proposal to hike the fares. "The board has forwarded the proposal to the district collector Saurabh Rao, who is also chairman of the district transport committee, for approval. The new fares will come into effect after the collector's nod," mayor and chairman of NMPL Anil Sole told TOI.
TOI had recently reported that the operator Vansh Nimay had approached the NMPL to allow it to increase fare. Sole added that bus fares were last increased in January 2011. Since then the fuel price has gone up by Rs 11.77 per litre. Vansh officials contended that the state-run MSRTC had revised fares thrice in the last two years. Sole pointed out that it was clearly mentioned in the agreement that Vansh could revise the fare whenever there is a fuel price hike.
The meeting was also attended by municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane, additional municipal commissioner Hemant Kumar Pawar, and assistant municipal commissioner Mahesh Moroney and other officials.
The board discussed many important issues about city bus service including payment of royalty to the NMC, shifting of parking from North Ambazari road and the place behind Vidhan Bhavan, in view of winter session of state legislature scheduled from December 10. They will be provided with alternative places to park buses, said Sole. The NMC also replaced Moroney with additional municipal commissioner Hemant Pawar as ED of NMPL.
The members expressed concern over non-payment of royalty to NMC. At present, the outstanding is around Rs 1.14 crore and mayor has directed the municipal commissioner to find a way to recover the dues within a week.
Sole also expressed concern over NMPL failing to form City Mobility Committee, which is supposed to entertain passengers' complaints. In fact, the committee members headed by municipal commissioner Wardhane as a chairman, should meet once a month. The commissioner assured to form the committee after Diwali.
Though the board members expressed satisfaction over the city bus service, Sole advised them to finalize the scrapping of 60 defunct buses.
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