Nagpur: While Metro Rail has chugged its way into commercial operation, though on Khapri-Sitabuldi stretch (reach 1) with fewer stops and limited time schedule, Nagpur Municipal Corporation has decided to restart the process of integration of city bus services with the train operations. However Maha Metro is bit reluctant to move through before the completion of phase-1 work.
Praveen Pardeshi, additional chief secretary to CM, had initially chalked out the integration plan in December 2017. Later NMC passed it in July 13, 2018.
Meanwhile, NMC has also made follow-ups with MahaMetro in this regard, however the latter is yet to take to the call.
Talking to a section of media MahaMetro managing director Brijesh Dixit said that the first priority was to completed phase-1 work within time. He was of the view that integration would be appropriate only after completion of phase-I and beginning of phase-II work. There would be no meaning in integration of two services till Metro Rail is used totally by people, he said.
Sources said there is a long process to hand over the city bus services to MahaMetro. “We are studying models of Gurgaon and Kochi integrated public transport system. There is also a need to amend the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act before the merger,” he said.
The proposal will be tabled first before city transport committee followed by standing committee and general body. Then, it will require an approval of the MahaMetro board and the state government.
