Bhayander : Two incidents of fire in public transport buses has jolted the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) out of its slumber, and it has now issued a final ultimatum to the private operator to improve services or be ready to face punitive action.
In two cases in as many days, privately-operated public transport buses had caught fire in Uttan and Mira Road.
Although nobody was injured in the mishaps, the quality of bus service provided by the private operator is under scanner.
While the exact cause of fire is yet to be ascertained, commuters have blamed a lack of maintenance and a blatant disregard for implementing standard safety measures as the reasons for such incidents.
“Running rickety buses is a direct threat to the lives and limbs of commuters, which will not be tolerated. We have issued a final ultimatum to the operator and if they fail to mend their ways, the MBMC will not hesitate in taking serious punitive action,” said assistant civic chief Kalpita Pimple.
Operated by Ulhasnagar-based Kestrel Infrastructure, the public transport utility is reduced to a shambles with commuters registering umpteen complaints in context to erratic bus frequencies and the rickety condition of buses that are well past their sell-by date, leading to frequent breakdowns.
As of now, less than 40 out of the fleet of 55 buses ply in and out of the twin-city.
While the transport utility boasts of operating on 33 routes, buses on around 12 routes are non-operational apparently due to a shortage of buses.
Suresh Golani
