The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has taken steps to expand its fleet with the addition of 3,000 fully built 11-meter buses. To facilitate the acquisition, an e-tender has been floated, and interested bidders have been given until May 14 to submit their proposals. It has been announced that the tenders will be opened the following day, marking a significant development in the state’s public transport sector.
As per the conditions of procurement, these newly acquired buses will be diesel-powered and will be provided with a Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC). Under this arrangement, the responsibility for maintaining the engine and other critical systems will be placed on the successful bidders for a period of seven years, while the general maintenance of the remaining components will continue to be handled by MSRTC’s in-house mechanics. According to a report, MSRTC’s existing fleet consists of approximately 14,500 buses operating from 251 depots across 31 divisions, serving passengers throughout Maharashtra.
While this expansion has been planned, attention has also been drawn to alleged irregularities in a previous MSRTC tender concerning bus leasing. Work orders for 1,310 buses are reported to have been issued under suspicious circumstances, allegedly in collusion with contractors. As a result, an estimated financial loss of ₹1,700 crore has been incurred by the state exchequer, raising concerns over transparency in the tendering process.
The matter was brought up in the legislative council, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the irregularities had taken place during the transitional period following the November 2024 elections. It was clarified by him that these work orders had been approved before the formation of a full cabinet and without necessary approvals from the chief minister or deputy chief minister. Due to the financial implications of the issue, the government was prompted to act swiftly by halting the tender process and ordering an inquiry into the matter.
The investigation is currently being led by the additional secretary of the Transport Department, and it has been assured by the chief minister that action against those responsible will be taken within a month.
At present, the transport department is being overseen by Pratap Sarnaik of the Shiv Sena, a party led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. As scrutiny over the previous tender continues, MSRTC’s fleet expansion remains a key priority for the state’s public transportation network.
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