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
