Activists oppose KMT bus services to fringe villages over taxpayer losses and merger proposal
Kolhapur Municipal Corporation
's (KMC) proposal to incorporate 18 fringe villages and two MIDCs has sparked a debate with activists from the pro-merger action committee voicing their concerns to additional municipal commissioner Rahul Rokade on Monday.
During a meeting held at the standing committee hall, the activists argued that the
Kolhapur Municipal Transport
(KMT) bus service to these peripheral villages should be stopped immediately. They contended that the KMT, funded by taxes paid by Kolhapur residents, incurs losses exceeding Rs20 crore annually. The activists asserted that the KMC's priority should be to provide amenities to its tax-paying citizens rather than subsidizing transportation for those residing outside the city limits.
Pro-merger activist Dilip Desai said, "We, the city dwellers, pay taxes, yet facilities are being extended to rural populations. We pay water tariffs, while individuals in the surrounding villages benefit from unauthorized water connections. The financial losses incurred by the KMC on these rural bus routes should be made transparent to the public."
Speaking on this, KMC deputy commissioner Sanjay Sarnaik said, "As per RTO rule, KMT buses are running in the 20km radius. Out of the 61 routes of KMT buses, 21 are plying on the rural routes."
However, Rokade said, "A meeting with civic administrator and pro-merger activists will be organised by the end of this week."
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