In a significant boost for public transport users across Maharashtra, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced that the entire Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) fleet will transition to electric buses within the next ten years.
Speaking in Pune at the Commercial Vehicle Forum 2025, one of India’s premier road transport conferences, Sarnaik outlined an ambitious roadmap for transforming MSRTC’s services and infrastructure.
He revealed that ageing buses will be phased out gradually and replaced with new, modern vehicles. “We are planning to induct 5,000 new buses, starting with 1,000 electric buses in the first phase. By 2029, the fleet will grow to 25,000 buses, and eventually, every bus in the ST fleet will be electric,” Sarnaik said.
To complement this shift, the minister announced that bus depots will undergo extensive modernisation and that enhanced safety and hygiene standards will be implemented within two months. Referring to recent incidents like the Swargate tragedy, he said that mechanisms will be installed to prevent unauthorized access to buses and that robust emergency response systems will be put in place.
Addressing the financial woes of MSRTC, Sarnaik acknowledged an accumulated loss of ₹11,000 crore. He said a white paper will soon be released to expose past inefficiencies and present a clear roadmap for financial and operational recovery. He urged the public to expect gradual improvements over the next two and a half years.
Rejecting the leasing model, Sarnaik asserted that the corporation will maintain full ownership of its fleet, with buses being manufactured specifically for MSRTC in some locations.
He also dismissed rumours of rifts within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, praising Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for providing generous funding to the Transport Department and assuring that decisions for upcoming local body elections will be made jointly by the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers.
Highlighting Maharashtra’s leadership in the automotive sector, Sarnaik pointed to the state’s newly launched E-Vehicle Policy, which aims to position Maharashtra as a hub for EV production and adoption.
