MUMBAI, Dec 29: After many hitches and postponements, the Kalyan Dombivili Municipal Transport (KDMT) city bus service may finally start from the first week of next month. The long-awaited service will initially start with six buses. ``We have not been able to hire staff, especially for the KDMT, so we are planning to hire drivers and conductors from MSRTC while the clerical staff will be provided from other departments of the KDMC,'' informed civic commissioner Madhukar Kokate.When asked about the approximate date of starting the service Kokate said, ``We can't give the exact date, but we are planning to begin the service from the first week of January''. He however, added, ``this is subject to our proposal to hire staff from the MSRTC''. Commenting on the contentious issue of provision of space for building a bus stop near the station the commissioner said, ``If there are any problems it will be resolved later, but this will not be allowed to become a hurdle in starting the bus services''.
The
chairperson of KDMT Kaka Hardas was of the opinion that the problem over allocation of the space ``was purely political'' and said, ``how the administration resolves the problem is their lookout, not ours''.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
