Khaire8217;s fare for MSRTC

The new transport minister, Chandrakant Khaire, wants the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC to take private operators he...

The new transport minister, Chandrakant Khaire, wants the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC to take private operators head-on. In a 45-minute exclusive interview with Ashish Wagh, Khaire vowed that he would equip MSRTC to do this.

Excerpts:

How does it feel to hold an office earlier held by a senior Sena minister?I have been chosen by maananiya Shivsenapramukh and the chief minister for this post and will work to the best of my ability.

What are your priorities?

My priorities include getting the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC back on its feet again by making good the losses which it has been incurring in the past few years, one-window clearance for licences and permits and collection of at least Rs 1,000 crore in the next financial year in RTO tax.

How do you intend to achieve these rather ambitious targets?

By bringing about discipline and rooting out corruption in the MSRTC , which is the main reason why it is making losses. Being the largest public transport organisation in the country, it requires adequate staff. We intend to recruit atleast 4,000 technicians, as well as more drivers and conductors. We will have regular surprise checks at all MSRTC offices to curb irregularities.

How do you intend to attract passengers to ST buses with private luxury buses ruling the roost?

We will very soon start airconditioned video-coach buses on a few trunk routes like Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, Sawantwadi, Nasik, Parbhani and Kolhapur among others. The trial runs have been successful. We will also promote ST buses as the safest form of passenger transport. Only ST provides its passengers an insurance cover. In case of a breakdown we also take the responsibility of making alternate arrangements8230; Our wide network comes in handy in such situations. What about private operators who are reportedly eating into the ST8217;s profits? Any new penalties proposed?

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We will closely monitor their operations and the menace will be tackled at the zonal level in coordination with the Traffic Police, Divisional Police, RTO and ST officials. However, we cannot deprive them of their livelihood. To tackle the problem, we have decided to issue permits for operating maxi cabs which can take either 61 or 91 passengers. There have been incidents where buses fitted with dilli-made parts have been involved in serious accidents.

I have reports of such thefts. Our surprise checks should be able to stop this8230; Stern action will be taken against erring officials.

How do you propose to tackle the increasing petty thefts at ST stands?

We will soon be introducing a platform ticket system. This will help us to keep away anti-social elements.

Any plans to revamp RTOs ?

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We are currently computerising eight RTOs in the state. These will then be linked through the Internet to the Transport Commissioner8217;s office in Mumbai.