December 20, 2025: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus depot at Vashi has finally been opened for city bus operations, nearly 18 months after its completion. The long-awaited move has brought relief to thousands of daily commuters who had been forced to board buses under difficult conditions since the demolition of the old bus station before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Built at a cost of Rs 190 crore, the depot began functioning quietly just ahead of the enforcement of the election code of conduct and without a formal inauguration. While residents and civic activists have welcomed the start of operations, the delayed opening has also drawn attention to wider gaps in Navi Mumbai’s transport planning, particularly the absence of a dedicated inter-state bus terminal.
For a year and a half, the fully constructed depot remained unused, compelling commuters to catch city buses from the congested Vashi–Kopar Khairane main road. This exposed passengers to heavy traffic, rain and extreme heat, triggering repeated public criticism and media scrutiny.
With city bus services now shifted to the new depot, daily intra-city commuters are expected to benefit from improved facilities and safer boarding conditions. However, the problems faced by outstation passengers remain unresolved. Travellers heading to other states are still required to wait at temporary roadside stops along the Sion–Panvel highway, often late at night and amid fast-moving traffic.
Elderly citizen Bhaktavar Mahajan said the lack of facilities for long-distance travellers has left outstation passengers, especially senior citizens, in a vulnerable position. He pointed out that there are no arrangements for seating, shelter or basic amenities such as toilets.
Activist B N Kumar described the absence of an inter-state bus terminal as a serious planning lapse and urged the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to allocate space for such a facility within the Vashi depot. An official, however, said that all city routes will be made operational in phases and that provisions for outstation commuters will also be introduced gradually.
Residents noted that the expansive depot has sufficient space to accommodate outstation buses, particularly since most long-distance services operate at night. Activists also recalled that key infrastructure projects in Navi Mumbai have previously become operational without formal inaugurations. With the depot now open, residents hope authorities will prioritise the safety and convenience of outstation passengers by creating a dedicated terminal within the Vashi facility.
