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Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
NMC seeks 240 more e-buses, begins scrapping old fleet
In a major push for sustainable public transport , the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) submitted a proposal to Maharashtra govt seeking 240 additional electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme . This move coincides with civic body's phased scrapping of 237 old diesel-run buses procured over a decade ago under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). In a letter to urban development department, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari requested 140 standard 12-metre electric AC buses and 100 midi 9-metre electric AC buses. The proposal follows a directive from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), which invited cities to indicate if they require additional electric alternatives under the central scheme. Earlier, NMC was allotted 150 electric buses under the scheme and is now looking to further bolster its clean-energy fleet. The civic body highlighted its preparedness to handle the additional buses, pointing to progress in building depot charging infrastructure and back-end power systems essential for electric operations. Confirming the development, Aapli Bus administrative officer Sonam Deshmukh said the detailed proposal, including technical specifications, infrastructure plans, and required undertakings, was submitted to the state-level steering committee for approval. "The expansion is expected to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and enhance daily commuting experience through quieter and more reliable transport," she said. NMC previously owned 539 buses, including 237 sanctioned under JNNURM. These are being phased out in two stages: the first phase involves auctioning 123 buses, followed by another 114 in the second phase. Currently, NMC operates 150 midi, 45 mini, and 230 electric buses. Of the electric fleet, 184 are AC buses and 46 are non-AC. These buses run on 129 routes with an average of 6,209 daily trips, covering nearly one lakh kilometres and serving around 1.17 lakh commuters each day. This year, another 400 AC electric buses will be added to the Aapli Bus fleet—250 from the state govt and 150 under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The first batch of 40 centrally sanctioned buses is expected to arrive starting July. Depots for these buses are being developed at Koradi and Khapri, while infrastructure for the 250 state-allotted buses is under construction at Wathoda.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
NMC seeks 240 more e-buses, begins scrapping old fleet
1 2 Nagpur: In a major push for sustainable public transport, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) submitted a proposal to Maharashtra govt seeking 240 additional electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. This move coincides with civic body's phased scrapping of 237 old diesel-run buses procured over a decade ago under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). In a letter to urban development department, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari requested 140 standard 12-metre electric AC buses and 100 midi 9-metre electric AC buses. The proposal follows a directive from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), which invited cities to indicate if they require additional electric alternatives under the central scheme. Earlier, NMC was allotted 150 electric buses under the scheme and is now looking to further bolster its clean-energy fleet. The civic body highlighted its preparedness to handle the additional buses, pointing to progress in building depot charging infrastructure and back-end power systems essential for electric operations. Confirming the development, Aapli Bus administrative officer Sonam Deshmukh said the detailed proposal, including technical specifications, infrastructure plans, and required undertakings, was submitted to the state-level steering committee for approval. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like サントリーロコモアが５,９４０→１,０８０円で試せる ロコモア こちらをクリック Undo "The expansion is expected to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and enhance daily commuting experience through quieter and more reliable transport," she said. NMC previously owned 539 buses, including 237 sanctioned under JNNURM. These are being phased out in two stages: the first phase involves auctioning 123 buses, followed by another 114 in the second phase. Currently, NMC operates 150 midi, 45 mini, and 230 electric buses. Of the electric fleet, 184 are AC buses and 46 are non-AC. These buses run on 129 routes with an average of 6,209 daily trips, covering nearly one lakh kilometres and serving around 1.17 lakh commuters each day. This year, another 400 AC electric buses will be added to the Aapli Bus fleet—250 from the state govt and 150 under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The first batch of 40 centrally sanctioned buses is expected to arrive starting July. Depots for these buses are being developed at Koradi and Khapri, while infrastructure for the 250 state-allotted buses is under construction at Wathoda.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
NMC to auction 123 old diesel buses this week
Nagpur: In a major step towards providing safer and more eco-friendly public transport, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) transport department is set to auction 123 diesel buses that are over 15 years old. These buses, originally acquired in 2010 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), deteriorated significantly and are being phased out due to high pollution levels caused by diesel. "We are introducing electric buses to promote environmental sustainability and safer transport in the city. As part of this effort, 15-year-old diesel buses are being phased out in stages. In the first phase, 123 such buses are being auctioned," said NMC's transport department manager Vinod Jadhav. NMC's fleet includes 240 diesel buses, out of which three are non-functional due to fire damage, 112 are operational, and 70 converted to run on CNG. Remaining buses are non-operational. A special committee comprising officials from the state transport department, RTO, and NMC transport department completed valuation of the 123 buses. The online auction process will be conducted this week through the Maharashtra Scrap Trading Corporation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo NMC operates 537 buses on 129 routes, serving approximately 1.39 lakh passengers daily. This fleet includes 230 electric buses, 112 old diesel buses, 150 midi buses and 45 mini buses. NMC is gradually removing outdated diesel buses from service. By June, the city is also expected to receive more electric buses under the PM E-Bus Seva scheme. The auction process is aligned with a central govt policy that mandates proper disposal of outdated vehicles and scrap. Govt departments, including NMC, must first assess and fix an 'offset value' for the scrap material. Registered bidders on the online portal can then bid for items like metal parts and plastic components. The highest bidder above the offset value deposits the amount online and is then granted access to inspect and collect the scrap.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Crores down the drain as ‘new' social housing schemes crumble across cities
Vadodara/Surat/Ahmedabad: A criminal waste of public money is being witnessed in key cities of Gujarat, where despite hundreds of crores being spent on their construction, homes in 'new' affordable housing schemes for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), remain unallocated or uninhabitable for more than a decade, exposing their shoddy quality. In Vadodara, a Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) housing scheme in Sayajipura, comprising 1,196 units has been practically complete since 2019 but remains unoccupied. These homes, meant for the urban poor, lack essential infrastructure like reliable water supply, and have been abandoned. "Even these beneficiaries have not paid their contribution for the houses yet. We got the blocks painted again and some minor work that remains can be done anytime," said an official from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. Sources said that the housing scheme had run into difficulties soon after work was allotted to a contractor, who claimed financial difficulties. The work had to be allotted to another contractor. Even after this, it was not completed in the real sense. It was only recently that around 30 beneficiaries were identified through a draw. "Even these beneficiaries have not paid their contribution for the houses yet. We got the blocks painted again and some minor work that remains cane be done anytime," said a VMC official. An elected representative pointed out that while the housing blocks may seem ready, there were issues related to water supply that still needed to be fixed. "Without basic amenities like water, the houses cannot be handed over," he said. The rot extends to Ahmedabad where the municipal corporation demolished 1,664 unused houses in Vatva, originally built at a cost of Rs 55.20 crore. These units were part of the 18,928 houses constructed under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme before 2014 for Rs 500 crore. "The 1,664 houses, which had been vacant for over a decade, had deteriorated significantly. An influential politician from the area had pressured to stop the allotment process," admits a senior AMC official. The official said, "A structural audit deemed them unsafe, prompting their demolition. Now, AMC has begun inspection of the remaining houses." Close to 4,000 houses among the 18,928 were never allocated for a long time — largely due to beneficiaries failing to pay the required Rs 65,000, leading to prolonged vacancy and decay. Alarmingly, nearly half of the total units have shown structural issues over the past 12 years. "The upcoming structural audit will guide AMC's next steps under the Public Housing Redevelopment Policy 2016," said the official. AMC's standing committee recently approved Rs 81 lakh for SVNIT, Surat, to assess the structural stability of over 8,000 houses across 270 blocks in Vatva and Behrampura. No action has been initiated against the contractors who constructed these dwellings. "Most of these houses were allocated to families displaced by the Sabarmati Riverfront project," adds the AMC official. The situation is equally dire in Surat, where a Rs 19 crore housing project for the EWS in Bhestan, developed in 2014-15, crumbled even before its 10th anniversary. This project of 270 apartments was constructed without crucial water and drainage connections.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Activists seek transparency in spending of Thane development funds
THANE: Civic activists and politicians in Thane have demanded greater transparency from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), calling for a white paper detailing how development funds amounting to several thousands of crores—received over the past 15 years—have been spent. They questioned why, despite this significant financial support from the govts, the city continues to struggle with basic infrastructure and services. The issue was raised by Thane Congress president Vikrant Chavan , who alleged Thane city failed to benefit from the funds, which were meant to drive transformation. Operation Sindoor Amid flare-up hours after thaw, officials say things will settle down with time Ceasefire on, but pressure stays: Key decisions by India against Pak that still stand 'Will work with India & Pakistan to seek solution on Kashmir': Trump 'Over the last decade and a half, Thane received approximately ₹16,000 crore in development funds. Yet, residents still face daily hardships due to poor civic facilities,' Chavan said. 'We have therefore demanded the Municipal Commissioner issue a white paper detailing the expenditure.' You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai According to Chavan, the funds include ₹2,200 crore from central schemes such as BSUP and JNNURM, ₹1,000 crore under the Smart City Mission, ₹6,500 crore from the previous Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra govt, and the remaining from TMC's own budget allocations. 'With this scale of investment, Thane should have developed into a city like Shanghai. Instead, we are left searching for the promised development?' He highlighted persistent urban challenges such as inefficient waste management, severe traffic congestion, rampant illegal constructions, chronic water shortages, a crumbling drainage network, deteriorating educational infrastructure, and delays in the cluster redevelopment scheme. 'All of this points towards stagnation, not development,' Chavan asserted. Meanwhile, citizens—particularly from the Ghodbunder Road stretch, one of the city's highest tax-paying zones—have echoed these concerns. 'Despite paying high property taxes, we rely on irregular water tankers and lack even basic road connectivity. Traffic from the highway is a daily nightmare. Sometimes we think of moving to Mumbai,' said a frustrated Kasarvadavali resident. Chavan further called for a department-wise audit of all completed civic works, scrutinising each stage from tendering to quality checks. He demanded the appointment of an independent committee to verify project status and suggested forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT), similar to the one used for the Mithi River inquiry, if needed. He stated that govt resolutions for all related projects have already been procured and will be used to press for accountability. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
