Maharashtra News: MSRTC Announces 15% Discount On Advance Bookings, Launches Reforms On 77th Foundation Day

In a bid to attract more passengers during off-peak travel seasons, Maharashtra Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik announced a 15% discount on advance bookings for long-distance travel, effective from July. The initiative, aimed at boosting passenger numbers and revenue, will especially benefit commuters on premium services like the e-Shivneri.

The announcement was made during the grand celebration of the 77th Foundation Day of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) at Yashwant Natya Mandir in Matunga on Sunday. The event also witnessed the unveiling of several key reforms and the felicitation of top-performing employees.

"Transforming MSRTC into India's No.1 Transport Corporation is our goal," declared Minister Sarnaik. He emphasized that delivering high-quality, reliable services to passengers while ensuring financial well-being for employees remains central to the corporation’s mission.

Praising the organization’s enduring legacy, Sarnaik said, "For 77 years, MSRTC has connected the remotest villages and tribal regions, playing a vital role in the social and economic fabric of Maharashtra. Very few institutions in India have sustained themselves for over seven decades — MSRTC stands tall among them.”

MSRTC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Madhav Kusekar, along with other senior officials, was present at the event. The Minister also expressed confidence that with continued public support, MSRTC would proudly celebrate its centenary in the years to come.

As part of the modernization drive, Sarnaik launched an Online Transfer System to ensure transparency and minimize human intervention in staff transfers. The system will govern all inter-regional, intra-regional, and departmental transfers, marking a major step toward digitization within the organization.

To promote safety and employee morale, MSRTC also introduced a new Incentive Scheme for Accident-Free Drivers. Additionally, MSRTC employees who received the State Government’s Vishwakarma Workers' Award were felicitated.

Top-performing officers were also honored with the Chairman's Gold Medal and certificate. The awardees included Vijay Gite, Divisional Controller, Dhule-Nandurbar Division; Sunil Mahale, Depot Manager, Sakri; Pankaj Mahajan, Mechanical Engineer, Dhule-Nandurbar; Surendra Tandale, Mechanical Engineer, Jalna; and Akshay Kenkre, Civil Engineer, Sindhudurg Division.

Another key highlight of the celebration was the release of a coffee table book capturing the 77-year journey of MSRTC through visuals, showcasing its evolution and impact.

“With these new initiatives and reforms, we aim to build a safer, cleaner, and smarter MSRTC that continues to serve the people of Maharashtra with transparency and dedication,” Sarnaik concluded.

"From its humble beginnings with a half-filled, wooden-bodied bus in 1948 to a fleet of smart, GPS-enabled vehicles today, the journey of MSRTC is one of resilience, evolution, and deep public connection" said an official on this occasion.

"It all began on June 1, 1948, when the first state-run bus departed from Pune for Ahmednagar, covering a distance of 120 kilometers. Then operating under the name Bombay State Road Transport Corporation, the maiden bus had a seating capacity of 27 passengers and was only half occupied. Interestingly, the body of that first vehicle was made of wood—far from the sturdy iron and aluminum buses seen today" he added.

Over the years, the buses evolved in both form and technology, but the iconic red color earned them the affectionate nickname ‘Lal Pari’ among generations of passengers. Until the 1970s, most buses were of the wooden Bedford-class variety—smaller in size and painted in silver and blue, before the red exterior became standard.

"Despite facing numerous hurdles—from chronic financial stress to the crippling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—MSRTC has remained the backbone of transportation across Maharashtra. Every day, approximately 55 lakh passengers rely on the service, many of whom are from rural or remote areas where no other form of public transportation exists. For these communities, MSRTC buses are not just a travel option—they are a lifeline" further added official.