MSRTC To Replicate Dhule-Nandurbar Revenue Model Statewide: Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik

Mumbai: In a bid to improve the financial condition of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik has announced that the revenue-boosting strategy successfully implemented in the Dhule-Nandurbar division will be expanded across the state. The announcement was made on Friday during a meeting held to discuss strategies for enhancing MSRTC’s revenue.

The meeting was attended by the Corporation's Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Madhav Kusekar, Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer Girish Deshmukh, Dhule-Nandurbar Division Controller Vijay Geete, Executive Engineer Pankaj Mahajan, and several other senior officials.

The Dhule-Nandurbar division of MSRTC is one of the profit-making divisions of the MSRTC. According to an official, this has happened because of several changes made by the division in the traditional operation pattern of buses, including operating more buses on busy routes and making changes in operations according to demand.

Minister Sarnaik emphasized that revenue generation should not be dependent on just a few divisions. “We cannot rely on just two or four depots or divisions to drive revenue growth. The entire MSRTC should collectively lead future revenue enhancement efforts by adopting innovative practices. Everyone should benefit from these pioneering initiatives,” he stated.

Officials at the meeting also proposed a comprehensive set of measures aimed at increasing income and reducing costs. These include rerouting low-demand bus services during off-peak hours and on holidays to more profitable routes, replacing old buses on long-distance routes with newer, fuel-efficient models, and assigning personnel based on efficiency and training.

Additionally, there were suggestions to operate shuttle services with fixed frequencies on high-demand local routes, collaborate with RTO officials to curb illegal transport activity, and increase state transport services in those areas.

The officials also recommended stricter fuel management practices, including careful use of diesel tankers to prevent theft and regular vehicle maintenance to improve mileage. They stressed the importance of changing both tires and inner tubes when replacing worn-out tires.

To control unnecessary expenses, the officials called for close monitoring of overtime allowances and better leave management to ensure maximum staff availability during peak seasons. Increasing services during weekly markets, religious fairs, and pilgrimages was also highlighted as a key revenue opportunity.

"By implementing these reforms across all divisions, the MSRTC hopes to stabilize its financial health and offer better services to the public, while ensuring efficiency and accountability within the system" said an senior officer of MSRTC.