Kamathwade residents long for better bus connectivity

NASHIK: The residents of Kamathwade and DGP Nagar, two of the fastest growing parts of the city, are in dire need of better bus connectivity to Nashik and other places. The state transport corporation running the bus service in the city, however, has not done anything to improve the public transport system in these areas.
Both Kamathwade and DGP Nagar, with their proximity to the industrial areas, Ambad and Satpur, are in urgent need of better connectivity to the city."These are the areas that house the workers and the executives of the companies, along with the businessman. Their wards have to travel 5-7km just to have access to schools and colleges. Considering that the residents have to travel long distances to the city on a daily basis, it is all the more important for the bus service to be strengthened in these locations," Rashmi Telang, a resident of DGP Nagar, said.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) does have buses running in the area, but they are very limited and the timings are very odd. "There is better connectivity between Mauli Lawns and Nashik city via Trimurti Chowk, but a few more buses linking the area to far-off places like Nashik Road, Bhujbal Knowledge City and Trimbakeshwar via ITI would only help the residents in limiting the useof their personal vehicles," Jaywant Thakre, another resident said.
Same is the case with the residents who have to travel all the way to the Nashik Road railway station to board the train. Most of the people living in the area travel to Jalgaon and Bhusawal and the passenger train that leaves the Nashik Road railway station at 5.30 am is the most sought after.
"We have to catch the 3 am bus that drops us at the railway station. But even to board the bus, we have to walk at least 2-3 km. There are at least 20 to 40 people from the area who have to use private transport to reach the bus stop. Moreover, the bus is always overloaded. Running an additional bus will help solve the problem to some extent," Neeta Barhate, a resident of Vrindavan Nagar said.
"This area is ideally located considering it lies equidistant from Satpur, Ambad and even the city and hence the area is growing rapidly. It also has better access to Gangapur Road. New residential societies are coming up in the area with every passing day and thus we need better public transport that connects the area to the city," said corporator Suvarna Matale, adding that she had met the divisional controller of the MSRTC to look into the issue.
The MSRTC authorities, however, have their hands tied as they are short of buses. The civic body has also declined to take care of the bus service in the city, putting additional burden on the state transport corporation. "There is no chance of adding more buses to the existing fleet. Reaching out to the new areas would only mean that we will have to cut down or compromise on the services to other areas," one of the depot managers of the MSRTC said.