Nagpur: The price of spiral fuel has slipped not only a household budget, but has also reached the Nagpur Municipal (NMC) company that lacks money (NMC) because the operating costs of the AAPLI bus fleet have risen almost 50%.
In accordance with the data obtained from the NMC transportation department, in 2017, the Civic’s body has fix RS49 per km for a standard bus, RS45 per KM for MIDI and RS35 per km for mini buses.
Since then, operating costs per km from the standard bus have increased by 63%.
At present, NMC pays RS70.86 per km to the Red Bus operator for a standard plying bus.
Likewise, the operating costs of MIDI and Mini buses have also jumped 45% and 44%.
At present, NMC each pays RS54 and RS42 per km, to three red bus operators, data is revealed.
A senior transportation department official acknowledged that the operational cost of Bus Aapli had increased manifold since the civil body replaced the Vansh Nimay Infra project with three red bus operators.
At present, the average income per km of standard bus is RS29.60, RS19.47 from MIDI and RS9.81 from the mini bus.
Data as of October 13 also revealed that the daily passenger bus aapli was 92,000 and its income through ticket sales around RS13.61 lakh per day.
The official source said earning per kilometer (EPK) and per bus income (EPB) increased every month.
Telling the example, the official said that on May 19, EPK was RS11.99 and EPB was RS27.47.
On June 9, EPK was RS12.91 and EPB was RS28.35 and now EPK has touched RS18.30 and EPB crossed RS40.45.
Likewise, as on August 15, EPK is RS20.21, while EPB increases to RS43.90.
The current data from the average income per km of operating standards (diesel), standard (CNG), MIDI (Diesel), Mini (Diesel) and MIDI bus (electricity) is around RS22.71, while income per RS44.
Senior officials also said that the Civic body had adopted several steps including changing the diesel-run bus to CNG.
80 standard buses have been converted to CNG and work to convert the remaining diesel-run buses ongoing, it shows.
In addition, NMC has also purchased six electric buses and additional orders for 40 other electric buses have been placed.
This eco-friendly bus will join the Aapli bus fleet next year (2022), he said.
Meanwhile, after nearly 21 months of covid-induced locking, which was applied in March 2020, the Department of Transportation would all operate all Aapli bus fleets from October 20.
“We will operate 390 strange Aapli buses from October 20 (Wednesday)) at 67 routes,” said Chairman of the Transport Committee Jitendra Kukde.
The operation of the Aapli bus full capacity will also increase the NMC viability gap funds with almost RS7 Crore per month from the existing RS5 Crore per month.
The official also ruled out the possibility of revisions in the Aapli bus rates and clarified that NMC could revise the cost only if Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) increases bus rates.