Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has instructed a security audit of all Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus stations and depots. The decision came after a woman was raped in a parked transport bus at Pune's Swargate ST depot.
Furthermore, Sarnaik announced new safety measures for the 15,000 MSRTC buses, including those hired from private contractors. All buses must now have CCTV cameras, GPS systems, and emergency buttons. He also set a deadline of April 15 to remove old and unnecessary buses and vehicles from MSRTC depots across Maharashtra.
The minister discussed security at MSRTC depots during a press conference at Mantralaya. He talked about the need for an audit of all 251 bus stations and 580 bus stands. The audit would find any gaps in safety, and these issues would be fixed.
Currently, MSRTC employs more than 2,700 security guards. These guards are hired through different security boards. The government is looking to increase the number of female security personnel by 15-20%. The idea of adding even more female guards is also being considered.
Sarnaik warned that action would be taken against any staff member found negligent. This includes bus drivers, controllers, and depot managers. When asked about using artificial intelligence (AI) for safety, Sarnaik said his department plans to introduce AI into MSRTC’s security systems.
The Swargate incident happened on Tuesday, when a 26-year-old woman was raped on an MSRTC bus. The accused, Dattatray Ramdas Gade, 37, has not been arrested yet. The police identified Gade using CCTV footage from the depot.
Gade was also found in police records. He has multiple cases against him, including chain-snatching and robbery in the Ahilyanagar and Pune districts. Gade has been out of jail on bail since 2019.