The increased fare comes across as a good news for the cash-strapped TMT, which is now expecting an increase in revenue and is hopeful to pay back its debts. TMT plies 311 buses on over 68 routes and is presently running into the loss of Rs4.5 lakh daily on its services.
Get ready to pay the increased fare to commute in the Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) from today. The proposed hike has finally been approved and it will be implemented from today.
There are about 2.55 lakh passengers who use the TMT buses daily and now, that the TMC has finally approved the increased fare, the passengers will have to pay Rs7 instead of Rs5 for minimum distance and the minimum fare of AC buses has been revised to Rs20 from Rs15.
The increased fare comes across as a good news for the cash-strapped TMT, which is now expecting an increase in revenue and is hopeful to pay back its debts. TMT plies 311 buses on over 68 routes and is presently running into the loss of Rs4.5 lakh daily on its services.
The TMT officials said they are hopeful that the increased fare will help them improve their financial standing. Devidas Tekale, the TMT manager, said, "New charges will be implemented from today and tickets, too, have been reprinted as per the increased new rates. Even the increased rates are cheaper than that of the BEST and other services plying in the city."
Apparently, the new hike has not created much furore among thanekars. "The increase of Rs2 in the minimum fare will not make big hole in our pockets, but what is surprising is that with though the fares are increased, the services still remain poor. There is a need to ply more buses in the city to meet the daily demands of the commuters. Also, the buses should ply as per the scheduled time rather than following an erratic schedule," said Divyesh Shaha, a Thane resident.
Though the nominal increase has not turned into a major problem, commuters are more more concerned about the Rs5 increase in the AC fare charges as they don't get facility in return. "Either the ACs are not functional or most of the time, they are turned off and are only switched on when we demand," said a commuter, requesting anonymity.
"In areas like Brahmand, Upvan and Anand Nagar, the fleet of TMT buses is very poor and commuters from the area will not pay the increased fare until the TMT mends its ways and increases the frequency of its buses," said KV Chandran, a senior resident.
A day ago, the residents had met the TMT officials to take up the matter of poor frequency. The transport authority officials have ensured that they will improve the services and working on it.
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