Low cost Shiva-Shahi poses stiff challenge to MBMT’s AC buses

At a time when the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is already reeling under an acute cash crisis by incurring huge operational losses every month due to its rickety bus services, its public transport utility is now staring a tough competition from its Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) counterparts which launched the Shiva Shahi- fleet of air-conditioned buses in Bhayandar on Sunday.

The Shiva-Shahi buses have been introduced on the Bhayandar-Thane route which is considered as one of the most busiest segment owing to the presence of various important public works related offices in Thane district including Collector Office, Tehsildar Office, Superintendent Office (Thane Rural), Sessions Court, Zilla Parishap and Education Department.

While the ticket rates of Shiva Shahi AC buses has been tagged at an affordable Rs. 48, in the MBMT’s AC buses commuters traveling on the same route have been paying Rs. 100. The normal State Transport buses charge Rs 33.

In its bid to meet rapidly growing passenger needs, the MSRTC is walking the makeover path with a slew of passenger-centric initiatives.

Unable to explain the huge gap in fare prices, MBMT officials, however, maintained that since the MSRTC buses offered only a non-stop, conductor-less service, there are many commuters who will still travel in the MBMT buses.