MIRA-BHAYANDAR: Commuters who depend on Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT) buses may soon have to pay more for ordinary rides. The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) administration has drafted a proposal to raise non-AC bus fares by up to ₹14, while cutting AC bus fares by ₹5 to ₹35 to win back passengers.
The proposal will be placed before the civic general body at its upcoming meeting. It will take effect only if the general body approves it, so the current fares remain in force for now.
Long-Distance Riders to Pay the Most
Under the draft, the increase grows with the distance travelled:
- Up to 2 km: ₹6 now, proposed ₹8
- 10 to 12 km: ₹17 now, proposed ₹18
- 28 to 30 km: ₹26 now, proposed ₹36
- 38 to 40 km: ₹32 now, proposed ₹46
Daily commuters on longer routes towards Thane and Mumbai would feel the biggest jump, with the 40 km fare rising by ₹14, an increase of more than 40 per cent.
Why the Civic Body Wants a Revision
Ordinary MBMT fares have not changed since 2013, and AC fares since 2016. The administration says the cost of diesel, of running electric buses and of spare parts for maintenance has risen sharply since then, adding to the burden of running the service.
MBMT runs a fleet of 131 buses, 74 diesel and 57 electric, on routes within the city and towards Thane and Mumbai.
AC Fares to Come Down
In the opposite move, the administration wants to lower AC bus fares by ₹5 to ₹35 depending on distance. Officials found that AC buses draw few riders because their fares are higher than what passengers are willing to pay. The new rates were worked out after comparing fares charged by transport undertakings in other cities, in the hope of filling more seats.
Commuters Ask About Service First
The proposal comes amid frequent complaints from passengers about breakdowns and buses that do not run on time. Commuters want to know what the civic body will do to improve service before asking them to pay more. The administration has not yet announced specific steps on this front.
This is not the first such attempt. A similar fare-hike proposal was placed before the general body in 2022 and was rejected. All eyes will now be on how corporators respond when the matter comes up again.