Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has resumed its services from Thursday (August 20) and will operate buses at every hour from Pune to Kolhapur, Thane, Dadar, Borivali, Nashik, Aurangabad and other routes.

Buses will also be released on Solapur, Pandharpur, Shirdi and other routes based on the number of passengers arriving. Passengers will not need an e-pass in any way to travel in MSRTC buses, officials clarified.

Based on passenger count at the Swargate, Shivajinagar and Pune stations bus stand in Pune, the MSRTC buses will be operated in phases. Dnyaneshwar Ranavare, Traffic Controller, Pune Division, MSRTC said, “Buses will be cleaned and then sanitised after each trip. Social distancing norms will be followed along with other lockdown restrictions. Thus any MSRTC bus will carry a maximum of 22 passengers.”

Advocate Lala Atole, a passenger, said, “I am relieved that the MSRTC bus service has started. Now I can attend court hearings outside the district without having to bother to drive my own car every time.” Another passenger Kalyani Tote said, “The long awaited decision has finally come. I am happy that I can travel to my relatives staying outside the district.”

Suresh Pawar of Someshwar Nagar said, “Passengers have been greatly relieved as MSRTC bus services have resumed on the backdrop of Ganeshotsav. Now we can go to Satara and Pune.”

MSRTC services were shut down for the last four months due to the nationwide lockdown imposed since March month. Earlier, 3,000 buses were plying with about 70 thousand passengers availing the services in the city daily. MSRTC service was started within the district in phases since the last 15 days.

The state government on Wednesday (August 19) allowed MSRTC buses to resume their inter-district passenger services in the state. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Government has clarified in his orders that no permission, approval or e-pass will be required for the buses and passengers travelling in the buses of MSRTC.