Residents of Dombivli are facing severe inconvenience due to the sudden suspension of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Transport (KDMT) air-conditioned (AC) midibus services over the past four days. The KDMT, already facing criticism for inadequate coverage across the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area, is now in the spotlight for poor planning and contractor mismanagement.
AC midibuses that operate between Dombivli station and Lodha, as well as the Nivasi Vibhag, have remained off the roads since earlier this week. The reason: the private contractor appointed by KDMT failed to renew the insurance of these buses, resulting in their grounding at Kalyan Depot (Ganesh Ghat).
This development has left hundreds of daily commuters stranded or forced to rely on autorickshaws, which are not only expensive but also inconsistent. Autorickshaw drivers charge Rs 50 per passenger from Dombivli to Lodha, over three times the Rs 15 charged by KDMT’s AC buses. Moreover, commuters complain of auto drivers refusing to depart until all seats are filled during evening hours, and refusing to wait for passengers in the morning from Lodha.
“When the AC buses stop, even the regular ones don’t show up. We are left at the mercy of auto drivers, who behave arrogantly and charge whatever they want. This is not sustainable for daily travellers,” said one frustrated commuter who did not wish to be named.
When contacted, KDMT General Manager Dr Vijay Kumar Dwase said he was in a meeting and directed queries to Assistant Traffic Controller Pramod Bagul. Initially hesitant, Bagul later confirmed that the AC midibuses had been pulled off the roads due to the contractor’s failure to pay insurance. “We are working to resolve the issue, and expect services to resume within the next two to three days,” he said.
Out of the eight AC midibuses that KDMT operates, only four are currently in service — two each for Kalyan and Dombivli. The remaining four are non-functional. Furthermore, Bagul clarified that the four Volvo buses that operate between Kalyan and Bhiwandi are not assigned to the Dombivli route.
What makes the situation worse is the contrast with neighbouring civic transport systems. Municipalities like Thane (TMT), Navi Mumbai (NMMT), and Mira-Bhayander are expanding their AC bus fleets and routes. In stark contrast, KDMT has reduced its AC services despite increasing demand.
Regular commuters, housing societies, and even local MLA Ravindra Chavan have repeatedly demanded an increase in AC buses. The route from Dombivli station to Lodha is one of the busiest, with fares priced at Rs 15, while the fare to the Nivasi Vibhag is just Rs 10. These routes were popular among daily commuters, especially senior citizens and working professionals, who preferred the comfort and affordability of AC buses.
KDMT, which was established over 25 years ago, is yet to provide full coverage across the KDMC region. Many areas still lack direct connectivity, and the existing services are often irregular and inadequate. While Navi Mumbai’s NMMT is running multiple AC midi and Volvo services from Dombivli West to Vashi and Belapur, KDMT has failed to match these efforts — and has no clear explanation for the shortfall.
Until the insurance issue is resolved and services restored, Dombivli residents continue to face the brunt of poor planning and lack of accountability in public transport operations.
Rs 50
Amount charged by autorickshaws from Dombivli to Lodha
