Latest news with #MMRTA
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Prepaid auto services to take off at airport's T2 before June-end: MIAL
Mumbai: Prepaid autorickshaw services will begin at the city airport's Terminal 2 before the end of the month. Although clearances from state govt, MMRTA, and other authorities have been secured, works like software updates with prepaid tariffs, establishment of counters for issuing prepaid receipts, provision of seats for differently abled passengers, and a bay for luggage trolleys, as well as minor infrastructure work, remain to be completed, according to a senior official from Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) on Monday. Last month, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that the prepaid auto service would begin from T2 on June 1. He indicated he obtained all clearances and organised meetings of all stakeholders, placing responsibility on the airport authorities to initiate the prepaid stand. The MIAL official said: "We run a prepaid taxi system at the airport. As for autos, the RTO already provided us with the rate cards for different destinations, and this will be fed into our system very soon. We will be handling more autos at the airport, and therefore a proper infrastructure needs to be created to avoid chaos." NGO Happy to Help has offered its services for operating the prepaid stand. An MIAL official said their assistance may be accepted, but overall supervision and management of the prepaid auto operations would remain with the airport authorities. MIAL will also receive support from the traffic police to monitor the autos. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "Prepaid autos will put an end to commuters being fleeced or dropped midway during their journey, as was reported in some incidents at airport's T2 in recent months," said a transport activist. "The system will regulate rogue drivers and deter those who insist on fixed, inflated fares."
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BEST's bus fare hikes, planned for May 8, await MMRTA nod
Mumbai: The BEST plans to implement the fare hikes from May 8, if all goes well and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) minutes are signed early this week, a source from the undertaking said on Monday. "A circular has already been issued to some of the officials in traffic division with revised fare charts and instructions to implement it from May 8. However, the minutes of the MMRTA meeting was not signed on Monday, and we will have to wait and watch," a source said. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The minimum bus fare will increase to Rs 10 from Rs 5 for non-AC buses, and to Rs 12 from Rs 6 for AC buses for 5km distance. Significantly, the hike for 50km travel will be as high as 200% for non-AC buses and 160% for AC buses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo The minimum weekly pass will be for Rs 140, while the monthly pass for 60 trips is Rs 500, 90 trips Rs 800 and 120 trips Rs 1,100 for 5km distance. The students bus pass is Rs 200 for monthly, Rs 600 for quarterly and Rs 1,200 for six-monthly. The corporate AC bus pass doubled from minimum Rs 600 for monthly to Rs 1,200, and from Rs 1,500 for quarterly to Rs 3,000 for the 5km distance. The fare hike is likley to improve BEST's revenue by approximately Rs 590 crore. — Somit Sen
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Brace to pay double or treble BEST bus fare from next wk
Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) on Wednesday gave in-principle approval to the BEST bus fare hike proposal, which will double the minimum bus fare for 35 lakh daily commuters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Fares will even treble as distances increase, said MMRTA sources, adding that the hike is expected to be implemented from next week. The minutes of the meeting are yet to be signed, MMRTA sources said. The minimum bus fare has increased to Rs 10 from Rs 5 for non-AC buses, and to Rs 12 from Rs 6 for AC buses for 5km distance. Significantly, the hike for 50km travel will be as high as 200% for non-AC buses and 160% for AC buses (see graphic). Last week, BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani, who is also BEST administrator, had approved the fare hike proposal, which was then sent to MMRTA for final nod. The fare hike is likely to improve BEST's revenue by Rs 590 crore. BEST will have to update its software for handheld ticket machines so that the new fares will be reflected on tickets issued to commuters. A BEST official said it will take a minimum of eight hours for the software and machines to be updated to reflect the revised fares. In its Wednesday meeting, MMRTA extended the deadline for recalibration of e-meters in autos/taxis in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Sources said the deadline is being postponed by a month. Nearly 20% of autos-taxis remain with meters yet to be recalibrated, said union leader Thampy Kurien, adding: "The recalibration process started 15 days late, and therefore there was a need to extend the deadline." Dhaval Shah from Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens' Association said: "We are not against the fare hike, but it should go hand in hand with service improvement. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The number of services has dipped sharply — with the fleet dropping to nearly 2,800 buses. Overcrowding and poor commuting experience have to be improved. Waiting time outside Andheri East station is 20-30 minutes, and the situation is similar outside Andheri West station too. We need to increase the bus fleet ten times."
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BEST set to double its min fares, hikes 3x on longer routes
Mumbai: BEST bus fares are likely to go up in Mumbai, with the minimum fares proposed to be doubled — from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for non-AC buses, and from Rs 6 to Rs 12 for AC buses for a 5km distance, report Somit Sen & Richa Pinto. Significantly, the proposed hike for 50km travel is as high as 200% for non-AC buses and 160% for AC buses so your fares could double or even treble as distances increase. For instance, as per the chart, the fare for 50km non-AC buses is Rs 60 (3x compared with the existing Rs 20) while for AC, it is Rs 65 (against Rs 25 now). The proposal got clearance from BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who is also BEST administrator, last week. It will now come up before the MMRTA for final clearance this week. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The proposal to hike fares on BEST buses, still awaiting nod from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), has come in light of BMC suggestion a few months ago that BEST adopt a revenue model which is sustainable on its own, one of which included hiking fares for non-AC and AC buses to curtail losses which have accumulated to more than Rs 2,000 crore, BEST sources said. In 2019, BEST had cut fares significantly—from Rs 8 minimum fare to Rs 5 for non AC buses — in a bid to attract higher ridership and managed to take it to 33-35 lakh passengers daily, but the undertaking has incurred huge losses and been in a "financial mess". A BEST official said the undertaking was suffering huge losses and there were delays in getting adequate funds from BMC. "Minimum fares of autos are up to Rs 26 and taxis Rs 31. So a fare hike for buses to Rs 10 should be acceptable to our commuters," an official said. Children can expect 50% concession in tickets though, sources said. The fare hike proposal stated: "Over the years, the cost of various components essential for bus operations, including fuel, has steadily risen. Fuel prices, particularly for diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG), have increased significantly. Additionally, manpower—crucial for both the operation and maintenance of buses—has become more expensive, with establishment costs rising sharply." Further, as per the proposal, there are plans in the pipeline to improve efficiency to BEST his services. "Bus services will be extended to areas currently without connectivity, supplemented around Metro stations, and optimised to improve bus speeds and reduce operational times," stated the proposal. Speaking against the fare hike, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray posted on X: "The BJP govt's plan to double the fares is nothing but just another way to choke Mumbai further and squeeze more money from the pockets of Mumbaikars..." SP MLA Rais Shaikh said, "The common man will be hit by the hike." "Instead of hiking fares, BEST should focus on getting more buses and reduce long wait," said Shekhar Abhishek, a commuter from Andheri. Another commuter, Shreya Kulkarni, said she was willing to pay more, provided BEST gave good service.
