Special Correspondent
Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is set to purchase 25,000 new buses over the next five years, with a plan to acquire 5,000 buses annually. The buses will be owned by the state-run corporation, as confirmed by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
Minister Sarnaik revealed that Maharashtra’s Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has given in-principle approval to the proposal during a review meeting for fiscal 2025-26. With this approval, MSRTC aims to have a fleet of 30,000 buses by 2029, which will include 5,000 electric buses. This expansion will allow MSRTC to provide bus services to every village across Maharashtra.
Currently, MSRTC operates a fleet of 14,300 buses, of which 10,000 are over 10 years old. These older buses will be phased out over the next three to four years, creating a need for new buses to maintain self-sufficiency. Sarnaik highlighted that Ajit Pawar swiftly approved the proposal for the five-year plan, recognizing the urgency of the situation.
In related news, Sarnaik addressed the recent 14.95% fare hike approved by the Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) from midnight on January 24/25. Sarnaik stated that he was informed about the fare revision only after media outlets reported it. He clarified that the fare revision was carried out by a committee led by the transport secretary, as authorized under Section 68(2) of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules 1988, with the decision finalized at a meeting on January 23.
