Source : PTI | Twenty-one years after the State Road Transport Corporation’s operations were suspended, a new passenger bus service will be launched in Madhya Pradesh on September 25 under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, with plans to operate 15,000 buses in a phased manner.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav made the announcement at a conference in Indore on Friday.
Officials said the State Road Transport Corporation’s services were suspended in 2005 due to financial constraints, and operation of passenger buses has been in the hands of the private sector since then.
Speaking at the ‘Passenger Transport Vision Summit 2026’, Yadav said, “We will launch the ‘Seva Sankalp Month’ from September 17 on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. As part of this, Chief Minister’s Sugam Parivahan Seva will be launched on September 25.” The new service will revitalise public transport and will utilise modern technologies to promote green and digital transportation, the CM asserted.
“This service will take into account the interests of all sectors, including those involved in the transport business. Change cannot come without transportation,” Yadav added.
State Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh said through this service, the state government, in collaboration with private bus operators, will balance the “unbalanced system” of public transport.
Buses will be digitally monitored for passenger safety, he added.
“Approximately 11,000 passenger buses have been granted permits in the state. The plan is to increase this number to 15,000 in the next three to four years under the new transport service. Bus operators will be encouraged to gradually integrate electric and CNG-powered buses into the new transport service,” Transport Secretary Manish Singh said.
Officials said a blueprint for 150 urban, 450 inter-city, and 436 inter-state routes has been prepared under the Chief Minister’s Sugam Parivahan Seva.
