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State working on proposal to give MSRTC spaces to private players on BOT basis, says Ajit Pawar

State working on proposal to give MSRTC spaces to private players on BOT basis, says Ajit Pawar

Anurag.Bende / Apr 12, 2025, 00:46 IST

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State working on proposal to give MSRTC spaces to private players on BOT basis, says Ajit Pawar

Pune: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said state govt is working on a proposal to give Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's spaces to private players on a BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis to generate revenue.
His statement comes in the wake of transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, earlier in the day, expressing disappointment over not getting enough funds from the finance department and facing criticism over MSRTC employees receiving only 56% of their March salary.
Supriya Sule, working president of NCP (SP), accused govt of being insensitive. "The MSRTC employees run their families on salaries. I expect state govt to show some humanity and stop their suffering. It should release their entire salary," the Baramati MP said.
Pawar, who also holds finance portfolio, said govt is making efforts to increase revenue for the transport body. "We are planning to give away open spaces of MSRTC on a BOT basis. According to an existing govt policy, these spaces will have to be handed for 30 years, but some private players said it is quite a short span for the model," he told reporters in Pune.

The issue was discussed in the recent cabinet meeting and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered officials to prepare a new policy wherein these spaces could be given for 60 years, the deputy CM said. "It can be extended for 30 more years. The proposal will soon be tabled before the cabinet."
Amidst the opposition's claim that MSRTC is facing a cash crunch, Pawar said during Covid-19, govt sanctioned Rs250-Rs300 crore when no buses were operational. "State has given a 50% concession to women passengers. Senior citizens and students are also travelling on subsidised fares. The finance department has made provisions for these concessions in the budget, which is passed on to the transport body."
Pawar further said nowhere in the world are public transport systems profitable. "The aim is to provide affordable transport service to common people."

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