Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) has announced a significant reduction in AC bus fares between Thane and Mumbai, benefiting thousands of daily commuters.
The municipal commissioner and administrator, Abhiit Bangar, made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that the revised fares will be applicable to both the newly inducted electric-powered AC buses and the Volvo services.
The move is intended to compete with rising competition from BEST and NMMT services that overlap TMT’s routes, as well as to provide comfortable travel to passengers who have switched to cheaper alternatives in recent years.
Under the revised rates, the minimum fares for the TMT AC buses will now be Rs 10 for the first two kilometres, a 50% drop from the previous Rs 20.
The maximum fare has also been reduced from Rs 105 to Rs 65, a nearly 40% cut.
The transport committee and the administrator have approved the fare revision and will present it to the Regional Transport Authority later this week.
The fares have been implemented for the newly inducted e-powered mini AC buses and will be extended to the 30 Volvo buses once the RTA approval is received.
The fare cuts are expected to benefit commuters, who will now be able to enjoy cool, comfortable rides at affordable rates.
The undertaking is also likely to benefit from an increase in the average daily passenger count.
Although the operating cost for the diesel-powered Volvo buses may be higher, officials hope to recover the difference by playing higher passenger volume.
The TMT aims to compete with the BEST and NMMT, which offer services on the Thane-Borivali and SEEPZ routes and charge nearly half of what the TMT charges.
The reduced fares are also likely to draw a sizable volume of passengers away from autos and fleet cabs. The company plans to expand AC services to Dombivali and Panvel in the near future.
The move is expected to be welcomed by daily commuters who have been struggling with high transportation costs in recent years.
With the new fare cuts, they can now enjoy comfortable and affordable travel while also contributing to the undertaker’s growth.
The TMT hopes that the move will also help to reduce traffic congestion on Mumbai’s roads by encouraging more people to use public transport.