TMT presents Rs 160 cr annual budget, proposes fair hike

The Thane Municipal Transport, plans to utilise several reserved plots for the purpose of depots and also earn extra revenue by selling space while proposing to outsource part of its operations.
TMT manager Devidas Tekale yesterday presented the Rs 160.98 crore annual budget to the TMT Committee.
The committee's newly elected chairman Sailesh Bhagat received the annual budget, which has recommended several measures for improvement and development of the services.
The TMT was preparing a proposal for fare hike, which was inevitable on account of the increase in diesel prices and also spares and other accessories, Tekale said.
The main features of budget include - setting up of two depots on Ghodbunder road, operating of as many as 53 buses outside the city limits, acquiring 19 reserved plots for use by the TMT, purchase of 100 buses on contract system, procurement of buses through the developers and reservation of 33 per cent seats round-the-clock for women.

The budget also proposed - implementation of GIS system, e-ticketing, to sell ad space in the depots, buses and bus stands, control rooms to increase revenue and monitoring the movement of employees with the help of CCTV. There is also a proposal to bring in 10 midi buses to the existing fleet.
The committee was also told that the outstanding payable to the employees was Rs 74.67 crores, of which the TMT has urged the corporation to provide Rs five crores.
It has been decided that the 230 buses which will be acquired in the TMT fleet will be operated on contractual basis.