No fare hike for NMPML buses in Nashik city

Nashik: The Nashik Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (NMPML) -- a transport wing of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) -- has ruled out any immediate hike in bus fares, offering relief to thousands of daily commuters amid rising fuel costs.

The civic transport arm clarified that there is no proposal under consideration to revise passenger fares, despite a sharp increase in diesel and CNG prices over the past few weeks.

The clarification comes in the wake of widespread speculation about a possible fare revision due to escalating operational expenses. NMPML officials, however, dismissed these reports as baseless and not reflective of the actual situation.

Since May 15, diesel prices have been hiked by around Rs8 per litre, while CNG rates have increased by Rs6 per kg, significantly impacting the corporation’s operational costs. Of the 250 buses currently operated by the NMPML, nearly 200 run on CNG, while the remaining 50 are diesel-powered, making fuel pricing a critical factor in overall expenditure.

Despite the cost pressure, the NMPML has decided to maintain current fare levels, prioritising affordability and public convenience. “Providing safe, reliable and economical transport remains our primary objective. No process has been initiated for fare revision,” a senior civic official said.

NMPML’s bus service has witnessed substantial growth since the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) took over operations from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on July 8, 2021. The service began with just 27 buses on 11 routes, carrying around 5,000 passengers daily and generating an average revenue of Rs1.30 lakh per day.

Over the past five years, both fleet strength and ridership have expanded significantly. Currently, the 250 buses operate on 60 routes across the city and adjoining rural areas such as Trimbakeshwar, Sinnar, and Pimpalgaon. The daily footfall has surged to nearly 70,000 passengers, with average daily revenue touching Rs21 lakh.

The service now covers around 27 terminals, two depots and nearly 1,440 bus stops, strengthening last-mile connectivity. Officials reiterated that citizens should not believe in rumours and continue to rely on Citylink services for daily commuting needs.