MSRTC fans adopt two of its buses to delight passengers

MSRTC has given two buses to the NGO for the monthlong trial service

A group of bus lovers has adopted two MSRTC buses on the Mumbai-Kolhapur route for a month, converting them into a premium service just to set an example of how optimal use of existing infrastructure can add to passengers' delight. Christened ‘Utkarsha', the service will start from January 26.

"We have been die-hard fans of MSRTC buses and we intend to provide the best possible service to its users without any monetary gain. We will be making sincere efforts," Rohit Dhende of Bus for Us Foundation told mid-day.

He explained the rationale. "Passengers face many issues such as bus not departing on time, breakdown mid-journey, not reaching the destination in time and reservation glitches. We intend to become ‘Pravasi Mitras' by offering a solution to such problems," he said.

The NGO pitched the idea to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), which allowed it to adopt buses on the Kolhapur-Mumbai route. "We will also develop a standard operating procedure and hand it over to the MSRTC so that it can be replicated on other routes," said Dhende.

Dhende and his team will decorate the 10-pm bus that departs from Mumbai Central for Kolhapur and set up a helpdesk for passengers. "Our teams will travel with the buses to resolve issues on the spot in this experimental service," he said.

Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of MSRTC lauded the move. "This is a good initiative by Bus for Us. This will help us know what more we are required to do in our endeavour to provide better service. This can also provide us with a model to be replicated on our other services," he told mid-day.

26 January
Date when the service will start

Bus for Us

The Bus For Us Foundation is an organisation of enthusiastic people, including students, businessmen, doctors, engineers and architects. The common thread that ties them is MSRTC. Every year, it undertakes activities like ‘Wari STpreminchi' and ‘Green Tourism' that bring together members from various locations. An exhibition bus ‘Vishwa Rath' helps promote and preserve MSRTC archives.

"Some of us like to click MSRTC buses, some like to draw and sketch buses. Some like to collect tickets, passes, bus numbers. Never before was it anticipated that this hobby would grow huge to include so many things having MSRTC at centre stage. We also organise passenger help booths during rush seasons like Diwali, Holi, Ganpati and other yatras," said Dhende, adding that they like to be called as ‘Pravasi Mitras' (friends of passengers).