After gathering dust for a year and a half, the newly constructed Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus depot at Vashi has finally begun operations. This Rs 190 crore facility, which was completed 18 months ago, opened its gates to city buses just before the model code of conduct for elections came into force, providing significant relief to thousands of daily commuters.
A Long-Awaited Relief for City Commuters
The depot's opening, which occurred without any formal inauguration ceremony, ends a prolonged period of hardship for local travellers. For the past 18 months, the fully-ready structure stood unused while the old bus station had been demolished before the Covid-19 pandemic. This forced passengers to board city buses directly from the busy and chaotic Vashi–Kopar Khairane main road.
Commuters were exposed to harsh weather, heavy traffic, and unsafe conditions, a situation that drew consistent public criticism and media scrutiny. The shift of city bus operations to the new, sprawling depot is now seen as a major step towards restoring order and convenience for intra-city travel.
The Glaring Gap in Inter-State Travel Infrastructure
While city bus users celebrate, the depot's opening has starkly highlighted a critical deficiency in Navi Mumbai's transport planning: the absence of a dedicated inter-state bus terminal. Passengers travelling to other states continue to face severe difficulties, having to wait at makeshift, unsafe stops along the Sion–Panvel highway.
Elderly citizen Bhaktavar Mahajan voiced a common concern, pointing out that no provision has been made for long-distance buses. This oversight leaves outstation travellers, particularly senior citizens, in a vulnerable position, often waiting late at night amid fast-moving traffic without basic amenities like seating, shelter, or restrooms.
Activists and Residents Call for Integrated Planning
Activist B N Kumar labelled the absence of an inter-state bus terminal a serious planning oversight. He has urged the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to allocate space within the new Vashi depot complex to address this long-pending issue. Residents echo this sentiment, noting that the depot has ample space that could be designated for overnight long-distance bus operations.
An official stated that all city bus routes will become functional gradually and that necessary provisions for outstation commuters will also be made. This development follows a pattern in Navi Mumbai, where key projects like the Nerul railway overbridge and the Vashi fish market also began operations without formal inaugurations.
The hope now is that authorities will prioritize creating a safe, dedicated inter-state terminal within the new Vashi bus depot, finally offering a comprehensive solution for all travellers.
