Maharashtra's Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman, Pratap Sarnaik, issued a stern warning to officials on Monday, demanding an acceleration of the ongoing tender process to ensure 8000 new buses are added to the state transport fleet by the end of 2026. He explicitly stated that any delays would not be tolerated, and officers found responsible would face strict action.
Review Meeting Reveals Alarming Fund Underutilisation
The minister's directive came during a crucial review meeting convened to assess the utilisation of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's (MSRTC) budgetary allocation for the 2025-26 financial year. The meeting was attended by key officials including MSRTC Managing Director Madhav Kusekar and Financial Advisor Girish Deshmukh, among other department heads.
At the meeting, Sarnaik expressed strong dissatisfaction with what he described as the "slow and sluggish functioning" of various MSRTC departments. He highlighted a critical financial concern: while the government had allocated a substantial Rs 2,460 crore for the state transport body in the current budget, a staggering Rs 1,600 crore risked being returned unspent with only three months remaining in the fiscal year. He termed this situation "an extremely serious matter."
Taxpayer Money for Passenger Amenities Stuck in Delays
Minister Sarnaik emphasised that these funds originate from taxes paid by ordinary citizens and are meant to be deployed for essential passenger facilities. The intended uses include:
- Procurement of new buses to modernise the fleet.
- Construction, repair, and renovation of bus stations across the state.
- Creating better infrastructure for commuters.
However, he pointed out that due to tender processes for bus purchases and bus station works being delayed for over nine months, the corporation has been unable to spend the allocated money. He squarely blamed the inefficiency of officers in the concerned departments for this logjam.
Clear Instructions for Rapid Modernisation
To rectify the situation, Sarnaik issued clear instructions to all officials. He mandated the expediting of all necessary tender and administrative processes required for creating essential passenger infrastructure. His orders focused on spending the maximum possible funds in the remaining three months of the financial year and accelerating all pending projects.
He reiterated that the modernisation of MSRTC would be carried out rapidly, with top priority given to passenger conveniences and facilities. The minister's message was unambiguous: bureaucratic delays must end immediately to ensure the public transport system receives the crucial upgrade it needs, funded by the taxpayer's money.
