The Times of India               14.12.2013

Centre to okay PMC's bid for 140 buses

NAVI MUMBAI: The state government will be forwarding Panvel civic body's bid for 140 buses this week to the urban development ministry. Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) has sought the buses for its maiden effort to provide public transportation to commuters not only under its jurisdiction but also to those travelling to Panvel and other nearby areas, under the phase II of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( JNNURM).

"We have worked out 30 routes that include Panvel and neighbouring areas like Kharghar, Kamothe, Khandeshwar and Uran," said chief officer of the council, Sudhakar Jagtap.

He also added that the buses would be made available, free of cost, to the municipal body, as 80% of the fleet will be funded by the Centre and 20% by the state government for civic bodies having less than four lakh population under the scheme. The population under PMC jurisdiction is 1.80 lakh.

The civic body has sought 84 regular buses and 56 mini buses.

The final clearance will come from the state government that would decide on ticket fares and later okay the bidding process for an operator.

The civic body will be developing two depots for parking at Karanjade and near the district court, a workshop for maintenance of the buses, and the bus shelters required at new spots.