Passengers travelling over 150km on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will receive a 15 per cent discount in fares from July 1 on making advance reservations, state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced on Monday.
An MSRTC release quoted Sarnaik, who is also MSRTC chairman, as saying that passengers can avail the 15 per cent discount on advance bookings for buses (AC and non-AC) if they are travelling beyond 150 km on long or medium-distance buses operated by the state-owned corporation.
However, the concession in fares will not be available during peak seasons of Diwali and summer vacations, the release clarified.
MSRTC also clarified that passengers already availing of any other discounts would not be eligible for this 15 per cent concession.
Sarnaik had announced the introduction of the 15 per cent discount during the 77th anniversary celebrations of the loss-making corporation on June 1.
Passengers booking travel tickets in advance -- whether at ticketing windows or through official website npublic.msrtcors.com, or via mobile application MSRTC Bus Reservation -- can avail 15 per cent discount, the release stated.
The release also mentioned that passengers traveling to and from temple town of Pandharpur in Solapur district for Ashadhi Ekadashi (a major festival in Maharashtra which will be celebrated on July 6) on regular buses would benefit from this scheme. Similarly, passengers travelling to the coastal Konkan for Ganapati celebrations (in August-September) can also avail of the offer.
Commuters travelling on MSRTC's premium (AC) Shivneri buses on the popular Mumbai-Pune section and other routes would also receive 15 per cent discount, it said.
The state-owned transport corporation, which had accumulated losses of Rs 10,324 crore in FY 2023-24, operates a fleet of around 15,000 buses. Approximately 60 lakh passengers travel daily on MSRTC buses, earning it the nickname "the lifeline of the state."
