Navi Mumbai News Today : Inauguration of New Passenger Shelter at Sion-Panvel Bridge by Senior Citizens with MLA Mandatai Mhatre's Contribution - THE PUBLIC NEWS 24
TPN24 Desk 
Navi Mumbai: A long-standing demand of local commuters has finally been met with the inauguration of a new "Passenger Shelter" beneath the Sion-Panvel Bridge at CBD Belapur. The shelter, which cost ₹20 lakh and was funded by the MLA fund of Navi Mumbai's senior leader, MLA Mandatai Mhatre, was inaugurated today by senior citizens Prabhakar Kamble and Balbir Singh Chaudhary.
The Sion-Panvel Highway is a crucial route for daily commuters traveling by state transport (ST) and private buses to Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Katraj, and other destinations. However, the absence of a proper shelter at the CBD Belapur bus station had been causing significant inconvenience to passengers, especially those with children. Commuters had to endure harsh weather conditions, including the summer heat, monsoon rains, and winter cold, while waiting for buses. This led to repeated demands from citizens for a dedicated passenger shelter.
Responding to these demands, MLA Mandatai Mhatre allocated ₹20 lakh from her MLA fund to construct the shelter at the bus station beneath the Sion-Panvel Bridge. The new facility provides much-needed seating and protection for passengers.
During the inauguration, MLA Mhatre highlighted the importance of this shelter for commuters from CBD, Belapur, Agroli, and surrounding villages. She pointed out that residents of Navi Mumbai, including traders, students, and farmers, frequently travel to various parts of Maharashtra such as Pune, Satara, Buldhana, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Jalna, Akola, Nagpur, and Dhule for business, education, and other purposes. The absence of a shelter forced them to seek temporary refuge while waiting for their buses, often causing discomfort and inconvenience.
The completion of this shelter marks the end of a long wait for commuters, who expressed their relief and gratitude for the new facility.
