Sector 6, 7, 8 residents say transport authorities taking them for a ride

Sector 6, 7, 8 residents say transport authorities taking them for a ride
The residents have been following up the matter for a long time. According to Krishna Pandit, a resident of Sector 7 and an active member of Maharashtra Pravasi Sanghatna, "There is a bus terminal near Wockhardt Hospital and from here buses are run for CBD and Thane only. Most of the residents here are working in the biggest industrial belt of MIDC at Trans Thane Creek. Unfortunately due to lack of availability of proper bus service from here, they are forced to go to the highway to hail a bus going towards Mumbai, risking their lives amidst speeding vehicles. Otherwise, they have to get down at Vashi Bus Depot to get another bus for Kalyan or Dombivali. In both situations, they have to face physical as well as mental stress and pay much more than is necessary".
Residents charge that a bus terminal was developed here decades ago, but it hardly serves the purpose it was built for. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport, which is one of the biggest local transport authorities having outreach in each and every corner of the city, has failed to cater to residents in this part of the city. Now that the transport department has got loan under JNNURM, it can bring in new buses to fulfill our demand. But the concerned authorities say that as they do not have enough staff, they cannot start any new service".
"Instead of serving residents in inner areas of Navi Mumbai, the transport department is busy introducing AC buses in Mumbai to compete with BEST. Their excuse of not having enough manpower does not hold water and it only shows an indifferent attitude towards the problems of residents," fumes Pandit.