‘Within one-and-a-half years, we will surely improve the condition of MSRTC’: Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik

I am working hard to ensure that citizens get good services through MSRTC. We can’t say that MSRTC is completely cash-strapped but yes, it is not in profit. None of the transport corporations in the country are in profit and Maharashtra is not an exception… After Uttar Pradesh’s transport corporation, Maharashtra’s transport corporation is the biggest in the country. We have nearly 13,000 buses to cater to a population of 13 crore in the state, of which 12,800 are owned by MSRTC and the others are taken on lease. There is a shortage of buses. We must have at least 25,000 buses… Within one-and-a-half years, we will surely improve the condition of the MSRTC.

What is your action plan to revamp the MSRTC?

We have already prepared an action plan, as part of which we will be procuring 5,000 new buses every year by scrapping old buses. With this move, the condition of the MSRTC will improve in five years. We have almost 1 lakh staff in the corporation, so we have to take care of them as well. They do not get the salary at par with other government staff. So, we are working on it also and trying to provide better facilities to the staff as well.

What is the status of EV bus procurement?

It is important that maximum electric vehicles are on the road in the country to control the air pollution. Hence, we are giving priority for electric vehicles… But right now, the production itself is very less.

How many electric buses has MSRTC received so far?

We have placed an order for 5,150 buses, but received only 450 buses in the past one year.

At this pace, do you think the action plan can be achieved?

Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has made an announcement in the Assembly that the government is serious on giving priority to clean energy buses.The government is holding discussions with companies and supporting them to increase production.

When we are promoting the EVs, then why tax was imposed on EVs?

We had decided that the tax would be imposed only on vehicles which are above Rs 30 lakh since it comes under the luxury segment.

There was no tax on EVs priced below Rs 30 lakh. But now we have decided to not impose any tax on vehicles above Rs 30 lakh as well.

There have been allegations of corruption in the transport department, especially about the cash for posts and transfers. Is it true?

For years, there has been a syndicate of the inspectors of our Regional Transport Department who had monopoly in transfer orders…

These must stop and hence we have ordered an inquiry into it. The government has a system of online transfer orders and officials should not indulge in recommendations and corruption for transfers… We have also got some information about meetings during which the officials have made some statements against the government itself. We have decided that the case shall be handed over to the Economic Offences Wing.

There has also been allegations of corruption and irregularities in awarding the contract for fitting high-security registration plates (HSRP) on old vehicles.

The allegations are baseless. The tender process was carried out with due diligence, and all precautions were taken. As many as 16.58 lakh vehicles have already registered and the department aims to cover the maximum number of vehicles by June 30.