MSRTC seeks feedback from drivers and conductors to improve quality of service

MSRTC staff at the Mumbai Central depot

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, one of India's biggest public transporters with 18,000 buses, is seeking feedback from its ground staff of drivers and conductors for timetable and route planning to improve the quality of its service. MSRTC has about 98,000 employees. "It is a fact that bus drivers and conductors of the corporation are on the field 24x7 and experience all the problems and issues firsthand," a top MSRTC official said.

"For example, a small thing like starting a particular new bus model requires minute details of responses on the routes, timings and types of buses. For all such issues, the staff always comes up with local and quick-fix solutions. This also indicates that the ground staff has a lot of crucial and need-based information. If all these small things that matter are integrated into the larger planning, it could do wonders for the bus operations and offer quality service," he added.

The corporation has appealed to its bus staff to share all such information with their local depot employees and other seniors. A register will be kept at all bus depots to note down the inputs. These will be assessed and sent to the head office regularly so it can be shared centrally for larger planning.