Mumbai: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, also Maharashtra finance minister, on Monday gave in-principle approval for MSRTC to acquire 25,000 new Lalpari buses over the next five years, with the induction of 5,000 buses per year. Pawar instructed the transport department to present the proposal to the finance department as soon as possible, said transport minister Pratap Sarnaik.
At present, MSRTC has 14,300 buses, of which nearly 10,000 are over a decade old and will be phased out in three to four years.
“Pawar conducted a review meeting for the transport department’s 2025-26 budget wherein I explained the present situation of MSRTC and the need for more buses,” Sarnaik said. “It is essential for MSRTC to become self-reliant by acquiring its own buses. Therefore, we have planned a five-year scheme to acquire 25,000 Lalpari buses and have requested the finance minister’s approval,” he added.