MSRTC to add 25 Volvos on Mumbai-Pune route

State government has agreed to sanction Rs 500 crore to Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation for infrastructure development and maintenance of bus depots; a part of this sum will be used to procure the new AC buses

Commuters travelling between Mumbai and Pune will soon have the option to give the rusty old ST buses a skip, as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), which caters to 70 lakh passengers every day, will be adding 25 air-conditioned Volvo buses to its fleet. These services are scheduled to begin shortly and the buses will ply exclusively along the Mumbai-Pune routes.

MSRTC operates Volvo bus services under brand name ‘Shivneri’ between Dadar-Pune-Dadar. File pic

The purpose behind this development is to ensure passenger comfort and safety on the three-hour-long journey. As a commercial transport provider, the state government is giving MSRTC R500 crore for infrastructure development, cleanliness of bus depots and maintenance.

Although the amount has been sanctioned, the organisation is yet to receive it. Jeevan Rao Gore, chairman, MSRTC said, “We are yet to receive the amount from the state government. Part of this money will be used to procure the new 25 AC Volvo buses.”

At present, the total fleet consists of 110 Volvo buses, out of which 90 buses operate on rental basis and the 25 new buses will be bought soon. Currently, MSRTC operates Volvo bus services under the brand name ‘Shivneri’ between Dadar-Pune-Dadar. Recently, this transport corporation hiked fares by at least Rs 10 across all routes. “The private bus operators hike fares during season time, wherein during vacations, the prices go sky-high,” said an official.

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