MUMBAI, JULY 8: In a decisive move toward building an eco-friendly, modern, and sustainable public transportation system, the Maharashtra state government has announced a comprehensive plan to completely transition the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus fleet into electric vehicles by 2035. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik shared this landmark roadmap during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council today. Replying to a query raised by BJP MLC Shrikant Bharatiya, the minister presented the state’s extensive modernization framework aimed at overhauling the public transit infrastructure.
The state transport corporation has already signed a major agreement to acquire 5,150 electric buses, with more than 900 vehicles successfully inducted into the existing fleet and actively operating across various routes. To support this expanding fleet, a robust charging infrastructure is being deployed nationwide, targeting 172 dedicated charging stations. Of these, 39 stations are fully operational, an additional 45 stations are scheduled to become functional within the next three months, and the MSRTC is closely coordinating with the contractor companies to expedite the remainder of the project. Concurrently, the transport department has launched a massive crackdown on unauthorized private operators running illegal transport services within a 200-meter radius of official MSRTC bus stations, resulting in strict punitive action against over 200 private buses so far.
The government’s master plan dictates a phased electrification process encompassing both newly purchased buses and the retrofitting of older diesel buses into electric variants to meet the 2035 deadline. Minister Sarnaik expressed immense confidence that once this transition is complete, Maharashtra will secure its position as the first state in India to operate an entirely electric state transport fleet.
To ensure equitable connectivity, the government has drafted a dedicated three-year development blueprint specifically tailored to strengthen MSRTC operations across rural, remote, and tribal belts. The state has allocated a substantial fund of 200 crore to modernize bus depots and busports, as well as to construct upgraded rest houses, staff quarters, and basic amenities for drivers and conductors. Furthermore, the minister highlighted that the newly introduced National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system has received an overwhelmingly positive response from commuters, signaling a highly successful shift toward digitized, unified public ticketing in the state.
