The lack of maintenance of Aapli bus services in the complete sense created difficulties for the citizens. In view of this mismanagement the transport department of civic body fined three operators engaged for running Aapli buses for lack of maintenance and collectively imposed a fine of Rs 15 lakh.
Similarly, a fine of Rs two lakh was imposed on M/s DIMTS for its failure to ensure that city buses are kept in order so that citizens do not face inconvenience.
Acting on directives of Narendra Borkar, Chairperson, Transport Department, NMC, civic officials undertook checks of city buses and imposed fines on the operators who could not ensure that buses are kept in proper condition. Several shortcomings came to notice during the checks conducted on Friday last. Fines were imposed for violation of contract conditions.
Earlier NMC was received with complaints from citizens about release of massive smoke containing harmful substances from the Aapli buses. The Transport Department as such formed three teams and they fanned out city and visited the depots of Aapli Buses on early morning of Monday and inspected the vehicles.The checks were carried out from 5 am onwards before the city bus fleet hit the roads for regular trips. Hingna Depot: On Orange Street at Hingna Depot, the team inspected and checked 115 buses. The depot is contracted to M/s Hansa City Bus services. Three buses were found to have major damages and needed heavy repairs to make them road worthy and same were sent back to depot for repairs. Remaining 112 buses were then rolled out for regular trips in city.
At Patwardhan Ground Depot,as per the information, nine buses were found to be in need of major technical shortcomings and hence they were sent back to Depot for rectifying the same. From 10 am onwards 107 buses started plying on city roads. At Khapri Depot operated by M/s Travel Times,about 78 buses were thoroughly inspected by the officials of civic body and only one bus was found to be having serious problem and was withdrawn from run. Based on the fact sheet, a report was sent to DIMTS, the bus operator, and with recommendation of component of fine to be imposed on these agencies tasked with maintenance of city buses.
