After Dy CM Shinde’s directions, state releases Rs 120 crore for paying MSRTC employees’ salaries

This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Sarnaik at Mantralaya on Friday, in which he directly asked Finance Secretary Saurabh Vijay to disburse funds to settle the salary arrears.

“On Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s instructions, Rs 120 crore has been sanctioned on an immediate basis. Employees will be paid the remaining March salaries on Tuesday,” Sarnaik added. He further stated that the Finance Department has also consented to release the remaining Rs 946 crore backlog in three installments.

This is after nearly all 80,000 employees of MSRTC workers were disbursed only 56% of their March salaries, with a few getting as little as 50%. Widespread distress had resulted from the delay, especially with workers preparing for the summer holiday season.

MSRTC Workers’ Congress General Secretary Shrirang Bare has earlier said, “This is for the first time in the history of MSRTC that workers have been paid just 56% of their salaries. The state government cannot keep turning a blind eye any more.”

The state-owned corporation has also experienced financial difficulties due to irregular release of pledged assistance by the state government. The monthly salary bill is about ₹360 crore. The government had released ₹40 crore during the month of March in respect of pending provident fund payments.

Sarnaik added that the Finance Department has also agreed to release advance funds amounting to one month’s salary to prevent delays in the future. “From now on, salaries will be paid by the 7th of each month without fail,” he said.