14.95% fare hike for MSRTC buses, from Jan 25 | What it means for commuters in Mumbai & beyond?

The Maharashtra State Transport Authority (MSTA) has greenlighted a 14.95% fare hike for MSRTC buses, effective from the 25th of January. The increase follows a proposal from MSRTC, which highlighted rising operational expenses, including the costs of diesel, chassis, tyres, and an increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA).

The revised fares will affect a variety of services offered by MSRTC, including standard buses, express buses, sleeper buses, and air-conditioned buses. For instance, a six-kilometre journey on a regular bus will now cost Rs 10.05, an increase from the previous fare of Rs 8.70.

The new fare rates, which will apply across all MSRTC services, will begin after midnight on the 24th of January. The fare increase is based on the recommendations of the Hakim Committee, which has been instrumental in determining the new rates.

In addition to the fare hike, the MSTA approved several other key changes. These include the introduction of environmentally friendly BS6 standard buses, which will be painted in a new tomato red colour scheme.

Moreover, the authority has approved distinct colour schemes for new electric buses: 50 e-buses will feature a white and green scheme, while 100 e-buses will be painted blue, aligning with the existing "Shivshahi" bus fleet. MSRTC, which operates one of the largest public transport fleets in the country, is currently running approximately 15,000 buses that serve around 55 lakh passengers daily!