The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Transport Committee on Monday approved a series of proposals aimed at strengthening and modernising the city’s public transport system. The approved measures include the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology in transport operations, conversion of mini diesel buses into CNG buses, expansion of bus services in NMRDA areas, construction of new bus shelters across the city and implementation of an advertising policy to boost revenue.
The committee also approved free travel in city buses for women and children up to 10 years of age accompanying them on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In addition, proposals for setting up air-conditioned toilets for women, breastfeeding rooms and livelihood-generation initiatives using scrap buses were cleared. The meeting of the Municipal Transport Committee was chaired by committee chairperson Mangala Khekre at the Panjabrao Deshmukh Smriti Hall of the Standing Committee on Monday.
Committee members Sudhir (Bandu) Raut, Vijay Hole, Pramila Mathrani, Mangala Muske, Rupali Thakur, Pooja Pathak, Shailesh Pandey, Dinesh Yadav and Shakeel Patel attended the meeting along with Additional Municipal Commissioner and Transport Manager Milind Meshram, Administrative Officer Yogesh Lunge, Operations Manager Rajiv Ghatole and other transport department officials.
The committee approved the implementation of an AI-based Automatic Passenger Counting System to improve operational efficiency in the city’s bus services. Officials said the system would enable accurate passenger counting, reduce revenue leakage and help improve route planning and scheduling.
Approval was also granted for the conversion of mini diesel buses into CNG-powered buses as part of efforts to promote cleaner and environmentally friendly public transport. During the meeting, committee members demanded the formation of an all-party committee to inspect the condition of municipal buses. The suggestion was raised by committee member Shailesh Pandey. The committee also approved the operation of 11 new buses on seven routes being extended under the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) area. It further cleared the proposal for construction of new bus shelters at various locations in the city.
Sudhir Raut suggested that new bus shelters should be constructed only after proper site inspections and consultations with local residents. To improve non-fare revenue, the committee approved the implementation of an advertising policy for transport-related infrastructure, including city buses, bus shelters, bus depots and bus terminals. During the discussion, Sudhir Raut suggested that older buses should be given preference over PM e-buses for displaying advertisements. Committee member Vijay Hole supported the proposal.
The committee also approved free travel for women and children up to 10 years of age accompanying them in city buses on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Under the ‘Stree Mahashakti’ initiative, two scrap buses belonging to the transport department will be converted into air-conditioned toilets, breastfeeding rooms and facilities aimed at promoting employment opportunities for women.
The committee approved the allotment of space to the Grahak Vigyan Kalyan Foundation for implementation of the project. Earlier, the Standing Committee had sought the utilisation of eight scrap buses for public welfare projects. Of these, five buses have been approved on a pilot basis for use by NGOs for activities such as restaurants, retail outlets, public mini libraries and cafes.
The committee also approved an additional expenditure of Rs 73.67 lakh for laying a 33 KV underground high-tension cable for the e-bus charging station at Vathoda. Officials informed the committee that out of the proposed 1,650 bus stops in the city, 500 would be constructed in the first phase, while the remaining 1,150 bus shelters would be developed in subsequent phases. The new bus shelters will be equipped with modern amenities including passenger safety features, LED route information displays and QR codes. A uniform design will be adopted for bus shelters across the city.
Committee member Shakeel Patel demanded that elected representatives such as Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly be extended free travel facilities in the municipal corporation’s ‘Aapli Bus’ services, similar to the concessions available in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses.
Chairperson Mangala Khekre and committee members congratulated the transport department for achieving a daily ridership of 2.8 lakh passengers under the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s ‘Aapli Bus’ service on Monday. The committee expressed confidence that the service would soon cross the three lakh passenger mark and directed the transport department to take prompt action on issues raised by committee members and submit compliance reports to the chairperson.
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