Nashik: The city bus service, which has been a savior for Nashik residents during the Corona crisis, has crossed the number of 50 lakh passengers in six months. On one hand the residents of Nashik have benefited, but the municipal corporation has to bear the loss. So far Rs 18 crore has been spent on this bus service. Despite earning Rs 9 crore in six months, the loss of ‘City Link’ has reached Rs 9 crore.
The then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis started the loss-making bus service of the State Transport Corporation by the Municipal Corporation. This bus service was started in the presence of Fadnavis from July 8 after the ruling BJP implemented the dream project of Fadnavis. After renaming ‘City Link’ this bus service is being started in phases. After starting this service on the eve of municipal elections, 52 buses were run on 9 routes in the first phase.
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81 buses were run on 22 routes
But due to Corona, the bus service did not get the expected response. There were not enough passengers due to closure of schools, colleges and religious places. Since the opening of markets as well as schools and colleges, there has been an increase in the response to the bus service. After that 81 buses were run on 22 routes. Initially, the loss was less due to less number of buses, but after the second wave of corona stopped, the number of buses was increased. Now with the running of 147 buses in urban and rural areas, the number of routes has increased to 42. The bus is earning around Rs 15 lakh a day and its cost is also the same.
So far a loss of Rs 9 crore has been done.
Since the start of the bus service on July 8, a loss of Rs 9 crore has been done so far. Earlier also there was the same income. In such a situation, only time will tell when Citylink will reach its profit. City Link Company has also started bus service in rural areas to compensate for the loss of city bus service. Buses are plying on 13 routes of the city due to the closure of buses due to the strike of the State Transport Corporation. These include Sinnar, Trimbakeshwar, Saykheda, Girnare, Mohadi, Ojhar. In the last six months, the bus service has crossed the 50 lakh passenger mark. Around 50,000 passengers are now availing the bus service every day.