News Analysis India

Tag: Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation

  • Maharashtra State transport bus catches fire near Nashik, second incident in two days

    By PTI

    NASHIK: In the second such incident in two days, a Shivshahi bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) caught fire on the Nashik-Pune highway on Wednesday morning, police said.

    Nobody was injured in the incident which took place around 8 am near Malwadi Shivar in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district, said an official.

    Shivshahi is a luxury AC bus service of the state-run MSRTC.

    The bus was on its way to Pune from Nashik when the drivers of passing buses noticed smoke coming out from its underbelly and alerted the driver.

    The driver pulled over and asked the 45 passengers on board to get down, the police official said.

    Within minutes, flames engulfed the bus, he added.

    A fire tender each from Sinnar Nagar Parishad and Sinnar MIDC were called in to douse the flames but the bus was completely gutted, he said.

    Further probe is on.

    A day before, 42 passengers of another Shivshahi bus had had a narrow escape after it caught fire in Pune city.

    The incident took place at around 11.30 am at Shastri Chowk in Yerawada when the bus was on its way to Pune from Yavatmal.

    NASHIK: In the second such incident in two days, a Shivshahi bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) caught fire on the Nashik-Pune highway on Wednesday morning, police said.

    Nobody was injured in the incident which took place around 8 am near Malwadi Shivar in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district, said an official.

    Shivshahi is a luxury AC bus service of the state-run MSRTC.

    The bus was on its way to Pune from Nashik when the drivers of passing buses noticed smoke coming out from its underbelly and alerted the driver.

    The driver pulled over and asked the 45 passengers on board to get down, the police official said.

    Within minutes, flames engulfed the bus, he added.

    A fire tender each from Sinnar Nagar Parishad and Sinnar MIDC were called in to douse the flames but the bus was completely gutted, he said.

    Further probe is on.

    A day before, 42 passengers of another Shivshahi bus had had a narrow escape after it caught fire in Pune city.

    The incident took place at around 11.30 am at Shastri Chowk in Yerawada when the bus was on its way to Pune from Yavatmal.

  • 12 killed as Maharashtra-bound bus falls into Narmada river in MP

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: At least 12 passengers were killed after their bus heading towards Maharashtra fell into the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Monday, a senior government official said.

    Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said 15 people were rescued.

    Twelve people had boarded the bus in Indore, he told reporters in Bhopal.

    The bus, belonging to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was believed to be carrying 30 to 32 people, another official said.

    The bus broke the railing of a bridge on the National Highway No.3 (Agra-Mumbai road), situated close to Dhar and Khargone borders, and then fell into the river, he said.

    The bus left from MP’s Indore city in the morning and was heading to Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, MSRTC officials said.

    Twelve bodies have been retrieved from the bus, MP Home Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Rajora told PTI.

    The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rushed to the spot, he added.

    After getting information, Indore Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Pawan Kumar Sharma instructed the Khargone and Dhar collectors to rush to the spot to launch a rescue operation, officials said.

    The river current was strong, Mishra said, adding that the rescue operation was on.

    The ill-fated bus was from the Amalner depot in Jalgaon district, MSRTC officials said.

    The bus departed from Indore city around 7.30 am and was going to Amalner, they said.

    Officials concerned from Jalgaon rushed to the accident spot.

    The MSRTC officials said they were in touch with the local administration which was conducting the search and rescue work at the spot.

    BHOPAL: At least 12 passengers were killed after their bus heading towards Maharashtra fell into the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Monday, a senior government official said.

    Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said 15 people were rescued.

    Twelve people had boarded the bus in Indore, he told reporters in Bhopal.

    The bus, belonging to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was believed to be carrying 30 to 32 people, another official said.

    The bus broke the railing of a bridge on the National Highway No.3 (Agra-Mumbai road), situated close to Dhar and Khargone borders, and then fell into the river, he said.

    The bus left from MP’s Indore city in the morning and was heading to Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, MSRTC officials said.

    Twelve bodies have been retrieved from the bus, MP Home Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Rajora told PTI.

    The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rushed to the spot, he added.

    After getting information, Indore Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Pawan Kumar Sharma instructed the Khargone and Dhar collectors to rush to the spot to launch a rescue operation, officials said.

    The river current was strong, Mishra said, adding that the rescue operation was on.

    The ill-fated bus was from the Amalner depot in Jalgaon district, MSRTC officials said.

    The bus departed from Indore city around 7.30 am and was going to Amalner, they said.

    Officials concerned from Jalgaon rushed to the accident spot.

    The MSRTC officials said they were in touch with the local administration which was conducting the search and rescue work at the spot.

  • MSRTC employee attempts suicide in Palghar amid ongoing transport strike

    By PTI

    PALGHAR: A 30-year-old MSRTC employee, who had been on strike along with other transport corporation workers, allegedly tried to commit suicide at his home here in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

    A section of employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) have been on strike since last month, demanding that the cash-strapped corporation be merged with the state government, so that they get the status and benefits of government employees.

    On Saturday evening, driver Deepak Khorgade, employed at the MSRTC’s Jawhar depot in Palghar, allegedly consumed poison at his home, a police official said.

    Later, his family members took him to the Jawhar sub-hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

    The employee was depressed and worried about his future, the police official said quoting the information received by them.

    Jawhar police station’s inspector Appasaheb Lengre told reporters that they were enquiring into the incident and no case was registered so far.

    The Maharashtra government has formed a committee to look into the demand of the employees for the merger of the corporation with the state government.

    (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Tamil Nadu Health Department’s helpline 104, Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050, or N Damodaran Centenary Lifeline Number for Suicide Prevention 1800-121-203040 or ‘Vidiyal’ suicide prevention helpline run by Coimbatore police 0422-2300999.)

  • Maharashtra Transport Minister holds talks with Sharad Pawar on MSRTC employees strike

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab met NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday morning and held talks regarding the ongoing strike by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees.

    The employees of MSRTC have been protesting for the last 15 days. Today is the 16th day of the protest.

    So far 2,053 MSRTC employees have been suspended, a state transport department official said.

    On November 8, the Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution to form a three-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, to look into the demands of the employees of MSRTC.

    Earlier Bombay High Court had instructed the state government to form a committee to look into the demands of MSRTC employees which include the merger of the corporation with the state government to avail the benefits, and salary hikes.

    The court had also said that after discussing with the stakeholders of MSRTC and the union, all the recommendations must be submitted in a report to the chief minister within 12 weeks.

  • MSRTC strike: Over 1,500 employees rejoin duty, 36 buses operated

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: As many as 1,532 employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation on Friday resumed duty and 36 buses were operated across the state even as the strike called by the unions entered its 16th day without any solution in sight.

    The number of employees who joined duty as claimed by the MSRTC and that of the buses which ran on the roads were miniscule.

    The corporation has about 95,000 employees on its rolls, and maintains a fleet of about 16,000 buses.

    The main demand of the employees is that the cash-strapped corporation be merged with the state government, so that they get the status and benefits of government employees.

    The government has formed a committee to examine the issue.

    ALSO READ: Maharashtra issues GR to form panel, allows school and other buses to carry passengers

    Shekhar Channe, vice-chairman and managing director of the MSRTC, said at a press conference in the evening that so far 1, 532 employees have resumed work and 36 buses were operated from 17 locations across the state.

    The corporation has lost about Rs 125 crore since the strike began on October 28, he said.

    “The help of the police department is being taken to ensure that the employees who want to rejoin duty are not obstructed,” Channe said.

    Buses were operated on routes including Mumbai-Satara, Dadar-Pune, Swargate (Pune)- Thane, Nashik-Pune, Nashik-Dhule, Solapur-Akkalkot and Rajapur -Burumbewadi.

    The highest seven buses were operated on the Pune Station-Dadar route. Over 850 passengers travelled by 36 buses. All 250 depots of the MSRTC have been closed since Monday.

    The MSRTC also issued a pamphlet on Friday, urging the employees to call off the strike immediately.

    Accumulated losses of the corporation have risen to Rs 12,000 crore, still it paid the salaries for the last 18 months by taking a financial assistance of Rs 3,549 crore from the state government, it said.

    “We will continue to make sincere efforts to pay salaries on time,” the corporation assured.

    The pamphlet also mentioned the fulfillment of other demands such as increase in the dearness allowance and house rent allowance and a Diwali gift for the employees.

    Ordinary commuters have been suffering and the MSRTC is losing Rs 15 to 20 crore every day due to the strike, it said, also warning of a long-term financial impact.

    According to the officials, so far the state-owned corporation has suspended 2,053 employees for taking part in the strike.

    A group of MSRTC employees, meanwhile, continued their protest at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai for the third day.

    No meeting is scheduled between the government and unions to end the deadlock as of now, officials said.

    The MSRTC on Wednesday filed a contempt petition in the Bombay High Court, saying the unions have continued the strike despite the HC declaring it illegal.

    The court has sought replies from the unions and will hear the matter on November 15.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray appeals to MSRTC employees to cooperate with state govt in resolving their woes

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to the state road transport corporation employees on Wednesday not to hold the state’s poor people hostage by continuing their strike, and cooperate with the government in its effort to resolve their issues.

    In a statement, Thackeray also hit out at the opposition for “instigating” the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees for their political gains.

    This is not the time to play politics, he said.

    Bus operations at all 250 depots of the state-run MSRTC were shut on Wednesday due to the strike by its employees over the demand for a merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government.

    Lakhs of passengers were facing hardships as the MSRTC buses were off roads.

    The Bombay High Court on Monday deprecated the MSRTC employees’ “adamant stand” of not withdrawing the stir despite the state government extending full cooperation and setting up a committee to address their merger demand, as per the HC’s directions.

    On Wednesday, CM Thackeray said, “Since the last few days, the government has taken steps to address the issues. Even the high court is satisfied with the steps taken by the government to address the issues of MSRTC employees.

    “In such circumstances, I appeal to you with folded hands not to hold poor people of the state hostage,” he said.

    Thackeray said the state has been battling the coronavirus pandemic for nearly two years now.

    “So please cooperate with the state government,” he added.

    The MSRTC is one of the biggest state transport corporations in the county with a fleet of more than 16,000 buses and around 93,000 employees, including drivers and conductors.

    The corporation used to ferry over 65 lakh passengers daily before the coronavirus outbreak last year.

  • MSRTC strike: Maharashtra issues GR to form panel, allows school and other buses to carry passengers

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Monday issued a notification setting up a three-member committee for considering the demands of striking employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on directions of the Bombay High Court even as the ongoing stir spread to 223 bus depots, affecting services and inconveniencing lakhs of passengers across the state.

    A section of the MSRTC employees has not been reporting for duty since October 28 seeking a merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government.

    Meanwhile, the state government on Monday night permitted private buses, school buses, contract carriage buses and goods carriage buses to ferry passengers, an RTO (Regional Transport Office) official said.

    “To avoid inconvenience to the passengers and keep the passenger service normal during the strike period, the state government gave the permission under sub-section 3 (N) of section 66 of the Motor Vehicle Rules 1988. The permission will automatically stand cancelled once the strike is called off,” he said.

    Earlier in the day, the high court had directed the state government to set up a special committee to address the issues raised by MSRTC staffers and issue a government resolution (GR) by this evening for setting up the special panel.

    As per the GR, the special committee will be headed by the Maharashtra chief secretary for considering the demands of MSRTC employees to give them the status of state government employees.

    The other two members of the panel will be the additional chief secretary (Finance) and the additional chief secretary (Transport).

    The committee would listen to the say of all the 28 labour unions and employees and submit its feedback and recommendations to the chief minister, the GR said, adding that MSRTC vice-chairman and managing director will work as a coordinator for this committee, but won’t participate in the decision-making process.

    After considering the recommendations of the committee, the chief minister would submit the report about the opinion or stand in the high court.

    The GR mentioned a deadline of 12 weeks for completing the process and asked the coordinator to update the high court about the progress every fortnight.

    On Monday, a vacation bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and S P Tavade, while hearing a plea filed by the MSRTC against the strike, noted that though in its earlier orders it had directed the workers to resume their duties, an attempt is now being made to amicably resolve the issue by requesting the state government to sympathetically consider the demand of the MSRTC workers.

    Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab last week said a discussion on the demand for the merger of the MSRTC with the state government and other issues related to the loss-making corporation will take place after Diwali.

    On Monday morning, bus operations at 223 depots of the MSRTC remained shut due to the strike of employees compared to 120 depots on Sunday, officials said.

    Before Sunday, around 30 depots were affected because of the stir.

    In the MSRTC’s Mumbai region, 14 of the 45 depots were operational on Monday, while in the Pune region, eight of the 55 depots were functioning, an official said.

    With the Diwali festivities just concluding, lakhs of passengers were now facing hardships and they were dependent on private buses for travelling to their destinations after the holidays.

    The MSRTC is one of the biggest state transport corporations in the country with a fleet of more than 16,000 buses and around 93,000 employees, including drivers and conductors.

    The corporation used to ferry over 65 lakh passengers daily before the coronavirus outbreak last year.

  • Conductor dies in depot mishap, MACT asks MSRTC to pay Rs 48 lakh

    By PTI
    JALNA: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal has ordered Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation to pay Rs 48.46 lakh as compensation to the kin of a conductor of the state undertaking who was hit by a bus inside a depot in Jalna, an official said on Saturday.

    Conductor Prabhu Kale (47) was standing inside MSRTC’s Jafrabad depot on August 31, 2018 when one of its buses dashed into him and he died while undergoing treatment for severe injuries.

    The order was passed by MACT Judge FM Khwaja on Friday.