MSRTC To Add 3,500 New Buses To Its Fleet In 2025

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road and Transport Corporation will induct 3,500 new buses in 2025 and check issues like breakdown of vehicles and long waiting duration for passengers, an official said. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur on Wednesday, MSRTC Chairman Bharat Gogawale said they have decided to purchase 2,200 buses for their fleet, besides hiring 1,300 buses on lease. 

"These 3,500 buses will begin joining the fleet in January, alleviating issues such as buses breaking down on the road or passengers having to wait for long periods," Bharat Gogawale said.

ALSO READ: Tourism Witnesses Steady Growth With Rising Footfall In Northeast Festivals

MSRTC to induct 3,500 new buses in 2025 to address vehicle breakdowns and long passenger wait times.

Currently, the state-run transport body's fleet is facing a significant shortage as the number of its buses has come down to 14,000 from 18,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2018, he said, adding that due to the pandemic and other factors, MSRTC was not able to purchase new buses in recent years. Hence, the shortage made it difficult for the corporation to provide additional bus services to meet the growing demand.

MSRTC Faces Challenges with Electric Bus Supply and Plans for Statewide Bus Station Development

The MSRTC placed an order to hire 5,100 electric buses from a manufacturer in 2022, but the company has not supplied even 1,000 buses yet, making it difficult for the corporation to manage its operations. Replying to some queries from media persons, Bharat Gogawale informed of the plans to develop bus stations across the state in phases. The government will fund some of these, while others will be developed via public-private partnerships.

ALSO READ: जमेट'नि सेन्सेक्सआव गाबोन हाबगोन; JSW स्टिल, M&M, ITC सेयारफोरा बायजोआव बोहैलांनो हागौ

Under the leadership of former chief minister Eknath Shinde, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) had begun the cement concretisation of 183 bus station areas across the state, he said. The MSRTC is one of the biggest public transport bodies in the county. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers ferried by it daily has gone below 60 lakh.