PANVEL: The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a ₹287.55 crore transport plan to start its own public bus service, raising hopes of better and affordable public transport for residents. But it is still not clear when the civic body’s buses will actually hit the roads.
The proposal was approved at the corporation’s general body meeting on Thursday, after years of delay since the civic body was formed. The plan aims to give residents convenient public transport across the corporation’s limits.
100 buses, depots and charging stations
The project covers the purchase of 100 buses, construction of bus stops and depots, charging stations and an intelligent transportation system. The proposal lists the following costs:
- 100 buses
- 86 bus stops: ₹8.15 crore
- Bus depots: ₹30 crore
- 76 charging stations: ₹8.4 crore
- Intelligent transportation system: ₹86 crore
- Other expenses: ₹5 crore
₹11 crore spent on bus stops, but no PMC buses
Even without a bus service of its own, the corporation has spent around ₹11 crore on building bus stops for commuters.
The delay has left residents asking when this infrastructure will be put to use and when they will get a dedicated transport system.
₹64 crore a year to Navi Mumbai
Panvel currently depends on Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) buses. According to the civic administration, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation seeks reimbursement of about ₹64 crore every year for running bus services in the Panvel municipal area.
Officials say an independent transport service is needed to meet local demand and reduce dependence on this arrangement.
Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Paradkar said the proposal was prepared to set up a dedicated transport system for Panvel. The administration will move ahead with the project after getting the required approvals and completing the formalities.
Electric or CNG? Questions over cost
At the meeting, corporators gave suggestions on how the plan should be implemented and whether it is financially viable. Congress corporator Latif Shaikh raised several points while supporting the proposal.
Concerns were also raised about the cost of electric buses compared with CNG buses, and whether the proposed spending is the most economical option for the corporation.
The approval is a major step towards Panvel’s own bus service. Residents will now be waiting for a clear timeline for when the buses will start running.