Good news! Now, physically challenged will get 75% discount in NMMT buses

Apart from reserved seats for the physically challenged commuters in Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) buses, they will also have to pay 75% less fares while commuting.

This decision was taken during guardian minister Ganesh Naik’s janta darbar on Thursday. Now, the proposal will be tabled in the general body meet for final approval.

Care, an organisation working for the upliftment of the physically challenged, had approached Naik during janta darbar proceedings and sought his help. Naik immediately, asked the officials to present the proposal at the general body meeting so that a discount can be provided to disabled commuters. “They should get all the facilities in NMMT buses, which have been laid down by the Centre,” he said.

Currently, NMMT does not give any discount to such commuters, while BEST and railways have been providing this facility for years.

However, it is not clear what will be the minimum criteria for getting the discount.
“The criteria will be decided in the general body meeting during discussion,” said Anwar Shaikh, chairman of NMMT.

Normally, there is a minimum percentage of disability to avail the discount. Shaikh said, “The ticket conductor can also decide while issuing ticket after seeing the condition of the commuter.”

As per 2011 census, the population of Navi Mumbai is around 12 lakh. An NGO, working for the physically challenged, claims that around 3-4% of the population comprises disabled people and they must get benefit of the decision.

“I am really very happy that now I will have to pay only 25% fare while commuting in NMMT buses. This is a good decision as we already have such facilities in BEST and railways,” said a commuter who is 70% disabled.