The Times of India         20.11.2013

Civic body approves Panvel bus service project

PANVEL: The special general assembly of Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC), which met on Monday, has approved the project report on the public utility transport system in the node.

The municipal corporation has been planning to introduce city bus services by asking for funding from the Ministry of urban development department through the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT).

PMC is planning to buy 140 buses, including 14 mini buses, and 42 midibuses and 48 non-AC buses.

"MMRDA is the nodal agency for the UIDSSMT project. After scrutiny, the project will be forwarded to the Central government for fund approval," said Charushila Gharat, PMC chairperson.

In the absence of city bus services, the residents have to depend on the NMMT, ST buses and share autos for travelling. "Share autos charge fare according to their whims," said a resident, Akash Mhatre.

According to the project report submitted to MMRDA, the total cost is estimated to be Rs 57.37 crore.

The Central government will contribute Rs33.36 crore, the state government and PMC will pay Rs 10.28 crore and Rs 13.82 crore as the project cost.

The fund will be utilized for buying the 140 buses and also to develop basic infrastru cture such as bus depots, garages, bus terminals, bus stops and so on.

The PMC will provide 15 acres of land for developing bus depot and has also earmarked around 2 acres at Karanjade for the terminal.