Palghar, Maharashtra: State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced plans to develop a modern bus port at the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) depot in Palghar. This initiative aims to provide better facilities for passengers and utilize the MSRTC's land commercially. The minister acknowledged the dilapidated condition of many ST buses and depots across the state, stating that this is a reality.
While addressing attendees at a 'Lok Darbar' (people's court) in Palghar, Minister Sarnaik outlined the transport department's vision to develop the MSRTC's approximately 1360 acres of vacant land. He emphasized that the development strategy wouldn't solely focus on urban areas. Instead, a trinity approach will be adopted, where the development of MSRTC land in urban locations will be coupled with the development of land belonging to the ST in one taluka-level and one rural area.
As part of this initiative, 63 bus depots across the state, including the one in Palghar, will be redeveloped through a public-private partnership model. Tenders for the projects are expected to be floated within the next two months, and the Minister expressed confidence that Palghar’s new bus port will be operational within a year.
During the Lok Darbar, citizens raised concerns about the lack of facilities at the Boisar ST depot. Minister Sarnaik immediately directed the Palghar Divisional Controller to take swift action to improve the infrastructure at the location. He also committed to inspecting every depot in the state personally as part of a broader two-year effort to uplift MSRTC services.
Responding to concerns about the poor condition of ST buses and depots, Minister Sarnaik admitted that the situation is dire. He mentioned his ongoing efforts to visit every depot in the state and devise necessary measures for improvement. He estimated that it would take at least two years to bring about significant improvements across all regions.
"If the funds are disbursed on time by the finance department, the losses incurred by MSRTC can be compensated. There are instances where delayed payments create serious operational challenges for us (corporation)," the Minister stated.
The Minister also announced that every depot in the state, including the eight in Palghar district, will receive 10 new buses within the year. In total, the MSRTC plans to procure 5,000 new buses annually for the next five years, including a mix of 12-meter, 9-meter, and 7.5-meter buses, along with 2,000 new small buses tailored for difficult terrain in hilly and tribal regions.
Clarifying the impact of the 50% fare concession for women passengers, Minister Sarnaik stated that the significant increase in female ridership has not led to losses for the ST corporation. He explained that if the government regularly reimburses the corporation for these concessions, the MSRTC can remain profitable. He expressed hope that with consistent financial support from the finance department, the situation of the public transport provider will improve.
Highlighting the MSRTC's commitment to serving remote areas, Minister Sarnaik mentioned that the department is studying the feasibility of deploying shorter buses in hilly and tribal-dominated regions to ensure smooth and safe travel for Scheduled Tribe communities.
However, there remains ambiguity among ST officials and employees regarding the exact location of the proposed bus port in Palghar – whether it will be developed on existing MSRTC land in the east or involve the transformation of the current Palghar depot in the west.
Finally, Minister Sarnaik defended the decision to provide a ₹10,000 subsidy for Rapido bike taxis to the children of MSRTC members and various auto-rickshaw owner associations, citing the successful implementation of similar schemes in other states.
