Pune: The state government has allowed Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses to resume their inter-district passenger services in the state. No permission, approval or e-pass will be required for the buses and passengers travelling in the buses of MSRTC, the government has clarified. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Government has issued orders regarding this.
The order states, "The inter-district bus services of only Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation will be allowed to function. No permission, approval or e-pass will be required for the buses and passengers travelling in the buses of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the operation of these buses will be issued by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Further, all the norms of social distancing and precautions to prevent COVID-19 as prescribed in earlier orders shall be followed."
Shekhar Channe, Managing Director of MSRTC told media persons that since the state government has now allowed to resume inter-district bus operations the services will start from Thursday. The MSRTC has over 18,000 buses in its fleet and employs nearly one lakh people. MSRTC is one of the biggest state road transport corporations in the country.
The state government has restricted inter-district travel in and outside the state soon after the lockdown was enforced in March month following the outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, the MSRTC was suffering from financial losses. In pre-COVID times, over 65 lakh passengers used to travel daily in MSRTC buses.
Thousands of citizens who were stuck outside their native districts have heaved a sigh of relief with this decision of the state government. Moreover, since the passengers won't require an e-pass or permission to travel is the most comforting part of this decision. Although the state government has said that the standard operating procedures for passengers travelling through ST buses will be issued, the MSRTC has already started planning operations on several routes.
