Despite being a major hub used by thousands of commuters, authorities have neglected repair and left facility in sorry state
The road surface inside the depot is riddled with large potholes, making navigation extremely difficult
Built to serve as a vital transport hub for the region, the Thane ST (State Transport) Bus Depot now stands as a symbol of shocking negligence. The depot, used daily by thousands of commuters, continues to function in a dangerous condition, riddled with potholes, muck, and crumbling infrastructure. With no signs of serious repair or reconstruction, the area seems more like a hazard zone than a public transport facility.
As one steps inside the depot premises, there is an endless stretch of massive potholes filled with sludge and garbage. Walking through the depot has become a risk to life and limb, and navigating buses through the area is nothing short of a nightmare for drivers.
The condition of the buildings that house the MSRTC staff is even worse. Inside offices where important administrative work is carried out daily, ceilings are on the verge of collapse, with concrete slabs already giving way and steel rods exposed. Staff report working under constant fear, unsure whether they’ll make it home safe each day.
A passenger waiting area inside depot
Despite being located in a prime urban area — and ironically, in the same city as both the deputy chief minister and transport minister — the depot has seen no progress in terms of renovation or reconstruction.
Sources say locals and regular commuters have raised complaints several times, but so far, it’s all fallen on deaf ears. No tenders, no announcements, no visible action. Just daily life under the looming threat of tragedy. “The depot looks like it’s been bombed,” said a daily commuter. “We don’t need Wi-Fi or AC buses… we just want the roof to not fall on our heads.”
Staff working inside the depot echoed the sentiment. “Every day we walk into this building and we wonder if we’ll walk out. The roof is cracked, the plaster falls off, and no one seems to care,” said a depot employee, requesting anonymity. This ongoing neglect raises serious questions about priorities. Will it take a disaster for the authorities to wake up? Locals say the depot is a “ticking time bomb”.
A badly maintained staff office with chunks of ceiling plaster missing. PICS/SHRIKANT KHUPERKAR
In response to the mounting concerns, Vijay Redekar, divisional manager of MSRTC, said, “We have already submitted a proposal to the Thane Municipal Corporation, and the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been granted from our side. The delay in progress is largely due to the ongoing underground Metro project work in the area. However, we are committed to addressing the situation. In the interim, we plan to demolish the portions of the depot that are no longer in use and retain only the ground floor. Repair work is scheduled to begin within the next 15 days. We continue to receive daily complaints from passengers and are acutely aware of the urgency of the situation. Immediate action has been taken, and we are prioritising these repairs to ensure safety and convenience for both commuters and staff.”
Nandkumar Deshmukh, president of the Thane Railway Passengers Association, expressed serious concerns over the deteriorating condition of the ST depot in Thane. “I have been trying to contact our state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, but neither he nor his personal assistant has responded to my calls. After all, he is the transport minister and resides in Thane. What hope does the common man have if even basic communication is ignored?”
Deshmukh emphasised the urgency of the situation, explaining that the bus depot is very old and unsafe. “Immediate action is needed to build a new bus stand. Those who travel daily are in constant fear of the depot collapsing while standing in the queue, especially during the busy morning and evening peak hours. The current condition is unacceptable and dangerous.” This correspondent also attempted to connect with Sarnaik, but despite repeated calls, there was no response.
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