MSRTC’s Pune division lost `5.50 cr during stir

Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has faced huge losses during the protest launched by the Maratha Kranti Morcha since July 20. 

Agitators targeted ST buses while several buses were torched. Due to this, the Pune division lost around Rs 5.50 crore in terms of damages to its buses, which included Rs 3.52 crore on account of passengers cancelling reserved tickets and daily revenue from passengers.

According to data provided by the MSRTC Pune division, during the protest in Chakan, the agitators damaged 16 buses. Of these 12 buses, a truck, a light passenger vehicle were burnt and two Shivshahi and two ordinary buses were damaged, which were valued at Rs 1 crore. 

In all, 12,397 trips of buses were cancelled from Pune division to various destinations, which cost Rs 3,52,11,808 losses of passengers’ revenue.

“The Pune division faced huge losses. During the Chakan protest, our buses were running till noon. Later, the buses were targeted. They started burning our buses. Among our three major ST depots, Shivajinagar faced a huge loss,” Yamini Joshi, Divisional Controller, Pune division, told Sakal Times.  

“Villagers suffer a lot, as they had no option of transport. They depend on the State Transport for commuting. Earlier on July 20, we cancelled only 20 trips of buses running under division. Later cancellations increased. In all, 1,861 bus trips were cancelled on July 30, 2,149 on July 31 and 2,656 on August 1,” said Yamini. The buses were cancelled on July 25 for Daund depot, on July 27 for  Indapur depot and Saswad depot, on July 28 for Indapur, on July 31 for Narayangaon and Rajgurunagar and on August 1 for Shirur and Narayangaon.

Chakan pass centre shut

The ST pass centre in Chakan was also burnt during the agitation. The CCTV cameras at the bus stand were broken and the entire system was damaged. ST employees and the police searched the ‘DVR’ in this system. However, it has not been found anywhere. So, the pass centre has been closed.