MSRTC buses to get anti-microbial coating

Currently buses are only sanitised to maintain hygiene

In a bid to make its buses free from COVID-19 and eventually be able to ply with 100 per cent capacity, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to apply a coating of anti-microbial chemicals on all touch points of about 10,000 buses. The public transport undertaking says that this would have to be done every few months and would cost Rs 9,000 for each bus. Work orders for the same have been placed.

The MSRTC, which has about 18,000 buses in its fleet, said the anti-microbial coating is a chemical agent that would be applied on surfaces to prevent the growth of disease-causing microbes.

To start with, the project will be implemented in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar and Ratnagiri divisions. Officials said that the coating would not only help reduce transmission of microbes, but will also maintain hygiene inside buses. The work orders for the same were placed in May. A senior official said that currently buses were being sanitised with disinfectants, which would continue.

Asked how effective the coating would be after the buses are washed, officials said that they would get more clarity on the same after the buses start getting the coating. "This is why only 10,000 buses have been taken up for the project now, as depending on the result, a further decision will be taken," the official added.
Another official said, "The anti-microbial coating will keep the environment inside the bus clean even if a commuter has not santitised his/her hands or washed them. During a journey, passengers come in contact with a lot of things and microbes are usually transferred to common touch points in public transport, such as rails, seats and control buttons. These pose a risk of cross-contamination and anti-microbial coatings offer protection against it. The MSRTC is probably the first big public undertaking that has taken up the challenge."