Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, also Maharashtra finance minister, on Monday, January 27, gave in-principle approval for MSRTC to acquire 25,000 new Lalpari buses over the next five years.
With this, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) can induct 5,000 buses per year.
Pawar instructed the transport department to present the proposal to the finance department as soon as possible, said transport minister Pratap Sarnaik.
The proposal was discussed during a review meeting for the Transport Department ahead of the 2025-26 state budget.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik highlighted that at present, MSRTC has 14,300 buses, of which nearly 10,000 are over a decade old and will be phased out in three to four years.
According to transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar acknowledged the urgency of the proposal and emphasized the need for MSRTC to become self-reliant by acquiring new buses to meet growing transportation demands across the state.
In addition to this, Minister Sarnaik shared plans to add 5,000 electric buses by 2029, which will bring the total MSRTC fleet to 30,000 buses.
"This expansion will help the corporation serve every village and ensure buses are available for all passengers, further improving connectivity across the state" added Sarnaik.
Minister Sarnaik also expressed his gratitude to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for his approval, describing it as a significant step forward for the millions who rely on MSRTC services.
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