Overview
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who chaired a high-level review on Monday, ordered MSRTC to build a statewide charging network, complete inspections of delivered buses within seven days and use AI to plan routes and charging stops.
- The state set a phased electrification timeline that aims for 50 percent of the ST fleet by 2029, 80 percent by 2035 and full conversion by 2047 under its Viksit Maharashtra vision.
- MSRTC is currently running a major 5,150‑bus procurement under a Gross Cost Contract where private operators supply and maintain buses, but officials are weighing direct ownership after repeated delivery delays from manufacturers.
- The government’s EV policy offers a 10 percent subsidy capped at Rs 20 lakh per bus for 1,500 e‑buses, and officials say a coordinated build-out of grid capacity, fast chargers and maintenance hubs is needed because e‑buses require scheduled charging downtime.
- Faster inspections, a charging network and AI route planning are meant to protect rural service continuity for MSRTC’s roughly 15,000–22,000 buses and could shift costs and control from private operators to the state if MSRTC buys buses and charging assets.