NMC ignores transport corporation ultimatum

Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has ignored Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC's) ultimatum to stop the city bus service from September 16, thereby indirectly refusing to take over the city bus service. NMC administration is also avoiding making public statements on the subject.

MSRTC had recently decided to close city bus services and hand over it to the respective civic bodies in the state from September 16. Accordingly, the MSRTC had sent a letter to the NMC administration, instructing it to take over the city bus service from the September 16.

But NMC has refused to take over the city bus service, which is making a loss of Rs 11 crore a year.

Speaking to Business Standard MSRTC divisional controller for Nashik, R K Jadhav said: "MSRTC stands by its decision to close the city bus service from September 16 and have stopped giving octroi to NMC. We are awaiting for further instructions from the head office," MSRTC pays octroi of around Rs 30,000 per month to NMC.

Uttam Khobragade, managing director, MSRTC, during a recent visit to Nashik had categorically said that city bus service, run by MSRTC in eight municipal corporations, including Nashik, would be closed from the 16th of September.

Currently, MSRTC is running city bus services in Nashik, Aurangabad, Nanded, Vasai, Arnala, Nalasopara, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Sangali, Karhad, Ichalkaranji, Jalgaon and Amarawati among others. It has a fleet of 700 city buses out of which 185 ply in Nashik alone. In the first phase of restructuring, it has decided to close city bus service in eight cities, including Nashik.

MSRTC buses ply on more than 300 routes in Nashik catering to 1.5 lakh passengers that includes 30,000 pass-holders. MSRTC has not added one new bus for city's service in the last eight years. 15- to 20-year old buses have been pressed into service.

NMC has chosen to ignore the September 16 deadline. The NMC administration has not made clear its stand in this regard and is avoiding comment on the issue. The issue was also not discussed at the last general body meeting of NMC.