Navi Mumbai’s New NMMT Bus Routes Face Backlash Over High Fares Despite Traffic Issues
Mumbai, 14th September 2024: Navi Mumbai: Commuters travelling from Navi Mumbai to the World Trade Centre (WTC) by Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) buses face daily traffic jams, particularly at Vashi toll naka and on the Eastern Freeway, causing delays.
To address these issues, passengers have requested regular NMMT bus services with frequent intervals to WTC via the Mumbai Transharbour Link Road, also known as Atal Setu.
In response to this demand and to compete with the ‘Chalo AC’ bus service run by Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and other private operators from Navi Mumbai to Colaba/Mantralaya, NMMT distributed feedback forms last month regarding a proposed new bus service via Atal Setu.
Following this, NMMT launched two new services on September 12, 2024: Bus No. 116 from Nerul Bus Depot and Bus No. 117 from Sector 35 in Kharghar. However, passengers were surprised by the ticket fares of ₹230 for Route No. 116 and ₹270 for Route No. 117.
Many passengers, upon discovering the high fares, exited the buses immediately. Commuters have expressed that the NMMT fares are significantly higher than those of private operators and ‘Chalo’ services, making them unaffordable for the average middle-class traveller.
If NMMT does not consider adjusting fares to be competitive with private operators, it may face a decline in ridership and potentially need to discontinue these services.
