Metro project to be on fast-track; plans afoot to abolish octroi for buses, taxis.
Mumbai will get 1,000 state-of-the-art eco-friendly buses by December, while its metro project will be put on the fast-track.
Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy has set an ambitious target for the next 100 days. He wants people to leave their cars at home and travel by public transport.
The minister has sanctioned 15,260 buses with global positioning systems for 61 major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Bangalore.
Reddy has promised to provide comfortable buses that will rival the metro rail. The buses, with low floors, wide doors, air-conditioning and electronic ticketing, will ply on city roads by the year-end.
“People should use their cars sparingly and use public transport for commuting to office. We are strengthening the public transport system. While the metro rail will boost public transport in major cities, we are investing a big way in improving the quality and quantity of buses so that people are encouraged to leave cars at home and travel in our new buses,” Reddy has said.
Mumbai and its surrounding areas get the highest number of buses to improve connectivity and comfort. By December, about 1,000 such buses will be given to the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply & Transport undertaking for operations in Mumbai, while Navi Mumbai will get 150, Thane 200, Kalyan-Dadar 50, Nashik 100, Mira-Bhayandar 150, Pimpri 150 and Pune 500. A public transport helpline 155220 has already been set up.
The government also plans to abolish octroi for the free movement of buses and taxis across state borders. A reciprocal common transport agreement has been signed between Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, and agreements between other states will be signed.
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