THANE, Dec. 12 -- For the first time, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) is set to roll out double-decker buses in the city. The first fleet of 10 double-decker buses will run between Teen Hath Naka and Gaimukh Junction on Ghodbunder Road, a stretch known to be dominated by private vehicles. The TMC also plans to add 100 new CNG buses by March 2026. According to civic officials, the new buses will be operated under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, where the corporation will not incur any upfront cost for purchasing these buses. Instead, a private contractor will procure and operate the buses, and the TMC will pay them on a per-kilometer basis. TMC officials said the double-decker buses are expected to reduce the number of private vehicles in Thane city, and especially on Ghodbunder Road, a stretch famous for traffic jams and potholes. Bhalchandra Behere, transport manager of TMC, told HT, "By introducing these double-decker buses, we expect to attract private vehicle users to shift to public transport. This will make public transport commuter-friendly, and reduced congestion and pollution."...