3 days ago
Maharashtra forms task force to integrate bus transport in MMR
The Maharashtra government has constituted a 12-member task force to prepare an integrated bus transport plan for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with the aim of enabling seamless travel through a unified single ticketing system.
The task force will be headed by the General Manager of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), while the Chief of the Transport and Traffic Department of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will serve as its secretary. The ten other members will include senior officials from key municipal corporations such as the Thane Municipal Corporation, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, and the Additional Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA.
A government resolution (GR) issued by the Urban Development Department on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) stated that the committee was formed following a meeting of the Growth Hub Regulatory Board held a month ago, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The task force has been assigned the responsibility of drafting a comprehensive plan to integrate public bus transport services and enhance coordination among various civic-operated systems in the MMR, currently lacking a unified transport authority.
The task force has been established under the Growth Hub Governing Board, which is also tasked with final approval of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Economic Master Plan. The proposed single ticketing system is one of several initiatives under the wider economic strategy.
According to the GR, the initiative aligns with NITI Aayog's Growth Hubs (G-HUB) policy, which aims to accelerate regional economic development by focusing on attracting foreign investment, encouraging startups, and creating employment opportunities. 'The policy recommendations focus on attracting and retaining foreign investment, promoting startups, and generating employment. They decided to roll out on a pilot basis in four urban regions, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in Maharashtra being one of them,' it stated.
