Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 17: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will recruit 17,742 drivers, conductors, and other staff on a contractual basis to support the addition of 8,300 new buses to its fleet, officials said on Tuesday.
Pratap Sarnaik, chairman of MSRTC and Transport Minister of Maharashtra, said a proposal for permanent recruitment has already been sent to the state’s Finance Department. However, temporary hiring is necessary so that the new buses can begin operating without delay.
Sarnaik said the corporation’s primary goal remains providing reliable and high-quality service to regular passengers. During a meeting with employee unions, he also issued directives to address day-to-day challenges faced by drivers and conductors, ensure fair depot-level decision-making, and maintain transparency in disciplinary actions.
The minister added that 30 sleeping coach buses and 170 seater Volvo buses will soon be introduced in Mumbai. To manage the overall expansion of 8,300 buses, the corporation will temporarily hire the required workforce on contract.
He also announced a welfare initiative for former staff, stating that retired MSRTC employees and their spouses will now be eligible for free travel throughout the year, building on earlier schemes such as free travel for senior citizens above 75 and half-fare concessions for women.
Speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Council during a half-hour discussion raised by Abhijit Vanjari under Rule 92, Sarnaik said the government is taking special steps to improve public transport services while reducing the corporation’s financial losses. Legislators Shashikant Shinde, Dnyaneshwar Mhatre, Jayant Asgaonkar, and Niranjan Davkhare also participated in the discussion.
To strengthen the “Gaon tithe ST” (bus for every village) initiative, the government plans to introduce mini and small buses to improve connectivity in remote and rural areas.
The minister also outlined several measures aimed at increasing revenue and reducing operational costs. A new diesel procurement tender has secured a discount of ?5.13 per litre, significantly higher than earlier rates. Additionally, fresh tenders for advertisements are expected to boost annual revenue, while commercial activities at bus stations and the use of solar energy will help reduce electricity expenses.
Sarnaik said the contract employees will serve temporarily until the formal recruitment process for 17,742 driver-cum-conductor positions is completed.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra’s Minister for Higher and Technical Education, announced approval to fill 5,012 Assistant Professor posts in non-government aided colleges. These positions are part of 11,918 existing vacancies under the state’s Higher and Technical Education Department.
Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening both public transportation services and higher education infrastructure across the state.