Fuel crisis drives over 3 lakh to use Metro, Aapli Bus in a day Nagpur: The ongoing fuel crisis triggered a massive shift towards public transport on Wednesday, with over three lakh commuters opting for Metro and Aapli Bus services in a single day, marking one of the highest combined ridership figures recorded in recent weeks. With petrol and diesel supplies remaining uncertain at several fuel stations, thousands of private vehicle users switched to buses and the Metro, leading to an unprecedented surge in passenger numbers. Metro recorded a significant rise in ridership, with 1,17,798 passengers traveling until 10.30pm on Wednesday, compared to 1,11,413 commuters on March 19 — a jump of over 6,385 passengers within just two weeks. Officials noted the spike reflected growing dependence of daily commuters on public transport as the fuel shortage continued. Aapli Bus service also registered its highest-ever ridership, with around 1.85 lakh passengers commuting on Wednesday. Even on March 24, the fleet carried 1.78 lakh commuters — nearly 10,000 more than ridership recorded on the same day last week. Last Wednesday (March 19), the ridership stood at 1,74,317, while on March 25 it surged to an all-time high of 1,86,148, showing a steady rise as the fuel crisis deepened. The surge in ridership also improved the financial performance of the bus service. Earning per km (EPKM) rose from Rs27.20 on March 11 to Rs30.81 on Wednesday, while earning per bus increased from Rs6,077 to around Rs6,555. Officials stated the higher passenger turnout despite the ongoing fuel crisis significantly boosted daily revenue. Interestingly, the record ridership was achieved despite the civic body operating fewer buses.#nagpur #aapli_bus #metro #kalmeshwar_route #sitabuldi_hingna_route
Amid fuel crisis, Aapli Bus ridership jumps to 1.78 lakh Nagpur: The ongoing fuel crisis has led to long queues at petrol pumps across the city, yet the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Aapli Bus service has seen a significant rise in daily ridership, surpassing 1.78 lakh passengers. Civic officials reported that the surge continued on Tuesday and remained high on Wednesday, with commuters increasingly opting for public transport due to difficulties in securing fuel. Tuesday’s ridership reached 1.78 lakh, up from 1.69 lakh recorded on the same day last week, highlighting a notable increase in usage within a week. The rise is attributed to private vehicle users switching to public transport after facing challenges in obtaining petrol and diesel amid panic buying and fuel station shortages. The civic body managed to operate nearly the entire diesel bus fleet, with three Red Bus operators supplying the required diesel to run 183 out of 195 diesel-run buses, including 45 mini and 150 midi buses. Officials emphasized that this ensured uninterrupted services despite continued pressure on fuel supplies. Transport committee chairperson Mangala Khekre stated that the diesel fleet is functioning smoothly and the situation remains under control. She noted that Thursday, a public holiday for Ram Navami, would further ease pressure, with fewer buses needed. In case of fuel shortages, priority would be given to electric buses. The increased ridership has also improved the overall performance of the bus service. Officials reported that earnings per kilometre rose from approximately Rs26.88 to nearly Rs29, while average earnings per bus increased from about Rs5,900 to nearly Rs6,100, indicating higher passenger loads on each trip.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #mangala_khekre #aapli_bus #sitabuldi #hingna_road
