NMMT Runs 32 Special Buses Between Belapur-Panvel Due To Railway Block

For the convenience of late-night passengers of suburban trains, 32 special bus services have been launched by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) between Belapur and Panvel railway stations.

To assist the building of two tracks (up and down) for the dedicated freight corridor at Panvel station, which began on August 18 and is expected to be completed by October 2, the Central Railway (CR) has taken a block from Belapur to Panvel throughout the night. At Panvel station yard, night-time blocks lasting three to four hours have been in force at this time.

Five hours during the night, from 12:30 am to 5:30 am, construction work is being carried on and hence there is a block. The railway block will be commenced every night till October 2. A few late-night services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Panvel are being canceled or reduced during the block period. The early morning Panvel train services are also canceled. Keeping this in mind, to ease commuters a little bit, Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport is running a few extra buses during night hours.

CR Sends NNMT Manager A Letter Seeking Assistance

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT)'s Transport Manager Yogesh Kaduskar, acknowledged that they received a letter from the Central Railway and they began special services on both sides in response accordingly.

Between Belapur and Panvel, NMMT has operated 32 special bus services in total. To accommodate late-night travelers, eight buses have been dispatched. The Sion-Panvel highway will be used by the buses, he said. He further stated that the last bus leaves from Belapur at 7:26 am and departs from Panvel at 6:34 am, with the first bus leaving at midnight from both places.

Insufficient Arrangements For Commuters

Due to a prolonged railway block at the Panvel station, thousands of local commuters in and around Panvel are dealing with major interruptions to their daily routines. Although 32 special municipal bus services are run to reduce customer annoyance, they claim that other arrangements made by local authorities are insufficient.

The local train timetable has undergone upsetting adjustments as a result of the prolonged block hours. Due to this, the last local train leaves CSMT for Panvel at 10:58 pm, while the first local departs Panvel for CSMT at 5:40 am. In order to cover the gap, the railway has let affected section passengers travel on the main route (bus route) using their existing tickets or passes.

Numerous local train services have been canceled as a result of the block, which has inconvenienced inhabitants from Kharghar, Mansarovar, Khandeshwar, and Panvel.

The special buses that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport operates between Belapur and Panvel, according to commuters, are unable to keep up with demand. The rickshaw drivers are taking advantage of the circumstance by charging high rates, claimed commuters. After midnight, the rickshaw drivers charge INR 100 per seat from passengers making a late-night commute from Panvel to Belapur.