Nagpur: With temperatures soaring across the city, commuters are increasingly turning to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) Aapli Bus service. This shift has pushed daily cash ticketing beyond the 1 lakh mark in April, a figure that excludes students, indicating even higher actual ridership.
Ridership Surge in April
Till April 26, the average daily cash ticket sales reached 1,01,768, a sharp rise from 93,649 in March, 95,914 in February, and 95,417 in January. Notably, this represents a significant jump from 85,453 average daily cash passengers in April 2025, highlighting the heatwave-driven surge this year.
Behavioural Shift Towards Public Transport
The spike underscores a clear behavioural change: as heatwave conditions intensify, public transport, particularly air-conditioned buses, is emerging as the most practical alternative to private vehicles. A key factor is the near-similar fare structure between AC and non-AC buses, making climate-controlled travel both accessible and economical.
For commuters, Aapli buses now offer a dual advantage of affordability and protection from extreme heat. Many passengers say AC buses have effectively become the cheapest escape from the heatwave, especially when compared with rising fuel costs and the physical toll of two-wheeler travel under the harsh sun.
"I used to ride my two-wheeler daily, but the heat has become unbearable. Now I prefer AC buses — the fare is almost the same, and I reach office without exhaustion," said Rahul Sharma, an IT professional who recently switched to public transport.
Echoing similar views, Pooja Deshmukh, a private firm employee, said, "Driving in this heat was draining and expensive with fuel costs. AC buses are not only comfortable, but also lighter on the pocket. I've completely shifted from my car this month."
Operational Scale-Up
The growing demand is reflected in the operational scale-up. The number of buses on the road rose to 508 in April, covering more than 100 routes, up from 466 in March, 455 in February, and 399 in January. NMC currently operates a fleet of 503 buses, including 195 diesel buses and 46 non-AC electric buses. Significantly, the corporation has 455 AC buses, of which 409 are currently operational in the city, forming the backbone of the surge in ridership and witnessing peak occupancy during afternoon hours.
Notably, the ridership figures account only for cash-paying passengers, excluding school and college students and pass holders, suggesting that the actual daily footfall is substantially higher, said an official. Overall, nearly 1.5 lakh passengers are travelling daily by Aapli buses.
