MSRTC opts for air-cushion comfort

In a bid to compete with private travel companies and bus operators,the state-owned Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation...

In a bid to compete with private travel companies and bus operators,the state-owned Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has recently started an air suspension semi-luxury bus service to a few destinations from Pune. It is also planning to launch air-conditioned semi -uxury buses and brand them on the lines of Shivneri.

The Mumbai-Pune route is perhaps the most lucrative business route in the state and over the past decade or so,the private operators including taxis and cool cab had made a dent into our business,not to mention the bus operators. Therefore,we thought of launching bus services which will be affordable and comfortable. Keeping this in mind,we have launched this air suspension bus service, said Mukund Dhus,MSRTCspokesperson .

For starters,the MSRTC has launched six buses to different destinations from Pune,including Mumbai,Nashik,Aurangabad and Nanded. By the end of November,it plans to operate a fleet of a total number of 160 buses.

Commuters have started liking the service. Besides,there is more sitting capacity in these buses,as against the regular buses. Instead of 39,these buses have 47 seats,which not only mean more seats,but also more revenue for us,” he added. Over the next couple of days,the MSRTC plans to start the semi-luxury AC buses. “We will first start only two buses. These buses will arrive by next month,after which,we will test them and then start plying on the roads. Recently,the MSRTC replaced all the 15 China-made King Long buses with the volvo buses in its fleet.

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transport