#mangala_khekre

NMC Transport Committee Approves 1.55 Crore Feeder Bays for Electric Bus Expansion The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) transport committee, chaired by Mangala Khekre, approved two major projects aimed at modernizing the city’s public transport infrastructure during a meeting held at the NMC headquarters. The proposals focus on expanding electric bus operations by constructing 33 kilovolt (KV) feeder bays at two key bus depots, as well as securing land for a modern bus depot. The decisions were made to support the city’s transition to sustainable urban mobility and improve the efficiency of its public transport system. The first approved project involves the construction of feeder bays at the Wathoda depot in East Nagpur and the Khapri depot on Wardha Road. At Wathoda, the electric and civil works for the feeder bay will cost 80.07 lakh rupees after deducting supervision charges. Similarly, the Khapri depot project has been sanctioned at a cost of 74.93 lakh rupees. The total expenditure of 1.55 crore rupees will be drawn from a 35 crore provision allocated for bus depot infrastructure development. The proposal had already received the municipal commissioner’s approval on April 16, streamlining the implementation process. In addition to the feeder bays, the committee approved the permanent transfer of 3.54 hectares of land at Khapri, located outside the Mihan Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The land, identified by khasra numbers 145/1 and 146, will be used for developing a modern bus depot. This includes space for bus parking, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and other transport facilities. The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) board provided in-principle approval for the land allotment.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #maharashtra_airport_development_company #mangala_khekre #wathoda_depot #khapri_depot

Rs575cr Transport Budget High on Spending, Low on Revenue Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s transport wing has unveiled a budget for 2026-27 that prioritizes spending over revenue generation, raising concerns about its financial sustainability. The transport committee, chaired by Mangala Khekre, submitted a revised proposal to the standing committee chaired by Shivani Dani Wakhare, increasing the budget from Rs524.58 crore to Rs575.58 crore. Despite this upward revision, income projections remain unchanged at Rs190 crore, creating a significant structural deficit. The department anticipates recovering only about half of the total expenditure through its own earnings, leaving a Rs200 crore gap. To address this, the committee is seeking Rs200 crore in subsidies, an increase of Rs50 crore from the administration’s initial estimate. The budget highlights a growing imbalance between spending and revenue. While operational and capital expenditure are projected to reach nearly Rs575 crore, the department’s ability to generate income through existing sources is limited. The lack of new revenue streams exacerbates the financial strain, with proposals for income generation—such as commercializing depot land and redeveloping kiosks—remaining unimplemented despite being carried forward from previous budgets. This stagnation in revenue diversification has drawn criticism, as it fails to address the long-term viability of the transport department’s finances. The revised budget underscores the challenges faced by local governance in balancing infrastructure development with fiscal responsibility. The Rs200 crore deficit will likely require increased reliance on municipal subsidies, which could strain public resources.#nagpur #nagpur_municipal_corporation #shivani_dani_wakhare #mangala_khekre #transport_committee

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

Conductors with repeat violations stay on job, NMC officer under lens A significant oversight has emerged in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's transport department, revealing that conductors with multiple ticket-related violations were allowed to continue working despite clear guidelines for termination after three offenses. Internal records obtained by The Times of India indicate that at least a dozen conductors have faced repeated cases, some with five to eight incidents, yet their employment IDs remained active and penalties were treated as routine rather than escalating to disciplinary action. According to established rules, any conductor caught in three cases—particularly those involving ticket irregularities or cash discrepancies—should be terminated to prevent financial losses in the city’s bus service. The NMC’s own website lists Pipurde as the labor officer in the transport department, responsible for personnel actions involving conductors and other staff. Officials acknowledged that the transport wing is already struggling with controlling losses and operational inefficiencies, and the failure to act against repeat offenders has further undermined accountability. The controversy has intensified as corporators have initiated a detailed review of decisions made during the four-year administrative period, with several departments, including the transport wing, facing scrutiny for alleged irregularities and lack of accountability. The inquiry into Pipurde’s conduct has gained importance after he was recently served a show-cause notice by the civic administration for allegedly overstepping his authority.#the_times_of_india #nagpur_municipal_corporation #papurde #mangala_khekre #nmc_transport_department