NMMT UNION TO STAGE PROTEST IF BUSES ARE NOT REPAIRED

The Navi Mumbai Mahanagarpalika Parivahan Mazdoor Union has threatened to stage a protest rally if their demands including repair of damaged buses are not met by April 15.

Talking to media persons, Praful Mhatre, general secretary of the union said, “We have met the NMMT management and requested them to look into our several demands including repair of damaged buses and improving facilities at the bus depot. If they failed to fulfill our demands, we have no other option but to stage protest.”

The union held a meeting with the administration in the wake of the explosion in the bonnet of an NMMT bus in the wee hours of March 23 at Turbhe bus depot.

The bus driver Javed Shaikh escaped unhurt in the explosion as he alighted from the vehicle to check safety devices to ensure that they are in operational condition before starting his trip, said Mhatre.

The impact of the explosion was so intense that bonnet rod in bus ( MH 43/ H/ 5147) was thrown on its front window pane.

“We have raised the deplorable condition of buses with NMMT management several times but nothing has been done so far,” claimed Mhatre.

He said “Most of the NMMT buses are in dilapidated condition and bus drivers put their lives at risk by driving such buses.”

“The buses have damaged seats, broken window panes. Entry and exit doors of some buses have tied with nylon ropes. Drivers have to push start 90 per cent of NMMT buses due to their damaged starters,” Mhatre said.

GS Mangle, manager of NMMT said, “VJTI has been asked to investigate the cause of the explosion in the bonnet. Those demands which are beyond our jurisdiction will be forwarded to NMMT which will look into them.”