MSRTC to add 3,500 new buses to its fleet by 2025

Mumbai, Dec 19 (PTI) The Maharashtra Roads and Transport Corporation will induct 3,500 new buses in its dwindling fleet by 2025 and check vehicle faults and passengers​ Issues such as waiting too long.

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur on Wednesday, MSRTC chairman Bharat Gogavale said that besides leasing 1,300 buses, they have also decided to purchase 2,200 buses for their fleet.

“These 3,500 buses will be added to the fleet from January, thus alleviating issues like buses breaking down on the road or passengers having to wait for long periods of time,” Gogavale said.

Currently, the state-run transit agency is facing severe shortages in its fleet, with the number of buses reduced to 14,000 from 18,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2018, he said.

Gogavale said that due to factors such as the epidemic, MSRTC has not been able to purchase new buses in recent years. The shortage therefore makes it difficult for the company to provide additional bus services to meet growing demand.

MSRTC has ordered 5,100 electric buses from a manufacturer for 2022, but the company is yet to supply 1,000 buses, making it difficult for the company to manage operations.

Responding to a media query, Gogavale revealed that there are plans to construct bus stations across the state in a phased manner. Some of these will be government funded, while others will be developed through public-private partnerships.

He said that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), under the leadership of former chief minister Eknath Shinde, has started cement concreting of 183 bus stand areas across the state.

MSRTC is one of the largest public transport agencies in the county. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers the company carries per day has dropped below 6 million.