The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has begun re-evaluating the expansion of its bus services within the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits, citing a lack of financial support from the civic body. Currently, NMMT operates 128 buses daily across 23 routes in various Panvel suburbs, including Kharghar, Kamothe, Taloja, Kalamboli, and New Panvel.
NMMT has demanded a daily compensation of Rs 17.5 lakh from PMC, stating it incurs significant losses due to operations in the area. The transport body claims it faces an average loss of Rs 51 per kilometer, amounting to Rs 5.3 crore monthly and Rs 63.6 crore annually. However, financially strained PMC has rejected this demand, citing pending property tax dues and limited revenue sources.
The deadlock is now affecting daily commuters. Despite the growing urbanization in Panvel’s suburbs, local transport options remain limited. While auto-rickshaws dominate the area, issues like fare manipulation and refusal of service have made NMMT buses a preferred choice among residents. Yet, service delays and insufficient frequency continue to frustrate passengers.
Senior NMMT officials, speaking off the record, have stated that expanding services in the Panvel region is not their primary responsibility unless compensated by the municipal corporation. Meanwhile, residents are left to grapple with long commutes and inadequate last-mile connectivity from railway stations like Panvel and Khandeshwar.
Before PMC’s formation eight years ago, NMMT had voluntarily extended services in the CIDCO-administered areas. Despite repeated correspondence over the years, NMMT’s request for compensation has been ignored by the civic body.
In response, Panvel Municipal Corporation has appointed an agency to study the feasibility of launching its own transport services. “We haven’t received any formal request to expand bus services. Once we receive the agency’s report, we will make a decision,” said Kailas Gawde, Deputy Commissioner, Transport Department, PMC.
As the standoff continues, commuters remain the ultimate sufferers, caught between administrative disagreements and unmet infrastructure needs.
