With an aim to boost up city’s public transportation, 90 more Aapli buses will now run on city roads taking the tally of total buses to 290.
Till now 200 buses were being operated while markets, shopping malls and other services have started as before under the ‘Break the Chain’ campaign.
Travelling during the COVID period with maintaining distance in buses was causing hardship to passengers. As per the policy to encourage the public transport, the operation of Aapli buses with full capacity is utmost important. Addition of these buses will now prove helpful in controlling the rush in city buses.
It may be mentioned here that citing the Aapli bus as the loss making business, NMC administration was shying to increase the number of buses.
Transport committee chairman Jitendra alias Bunty Kukde met the NMC commissioner regarding the demand to increase the buses. Describing transport as a fundamental right, he pressurised to increase buses.
Eventually, the commissioner took the decision to put 70 per cent of the buses on the roads. On Wednesday, deputy commissioner Ravindra Bhelawe issued an order to increase 90 buses.
Around 65000 passengers travel daily through public transport. At present 200 buses are operating. With the increase in the number of buses, the number of passengers will increase. Before the corona period, around 1.5 lakh passengers were travelling in 360 buses daily in Nagpur city.