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The use of technology shall greatly enhance the efficiency of bus transport operations leading to better services. For example, the use of GPS tracking systems and bus and crew scheduling can help optimize bus routes, reduce fuel consumption, and improve the accuracy of arrival and departure times, shares Shri Shekhar Channe, IAS, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), in an exclusive interaction with Nisha Samant of Elets News Network (ENN).

As the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), how do you envision the role of the organisation in the development of the state’s transportation infrastructure and economy? What initiatives are you taking to modernize MSRTC and make it more efficient and customer-friendly?

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation plays a vital role in connecting people and goods across different regions, and enhancing economic growth and development in and adjacent states of Maharashtra.

MSRTC works closely with different stakeholders, including government agencies, the private sector, and citizens, to identify and prioritize transportation needs, develop strategic plans, and implement effective policies and programs. Further, MSRTC provides thousands of direct and indirect employments. There are millions whose livelihood depends on the services being run by MSRTC.

Some specific initiatives being taken to modernize and improve the efficiency and customer-friendliness of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation include:

1. Leveraging technology: MSRTC is leveraging on emerging technologies, such as intelligent transportation systems, digital platforms, and mobile applications, to improve operations, enhance safety, and provide better services to customers. For instance, the corporation has developed a userfriendly app to enable customers to book tickets, track vehicles, and provide real-time information on arrival and departure times.

2. Improving fleet management: MSRTC has adopted advanced fleet management technologies, such as GPS tracking, bus and crew scheduling to optimize routes and improved punctuality. This has led to significant improvement in service reliability.

3. Enhancing customer experience: MSRTC is focusing on enhancing the overall customer experience by providing clean, comfortable, and safe vehicles, well-trained drivers and staff, and efficient booking and payment processes. MSRTC also runs a 24*7 call centre to address customer complaints promptly.

4. Promoting sustainability: MSRTC has adopted environmentally friendly practices, such as using alternative fuels. The corporation plans to upgrade 25% of its fleet strength to electric in the near future. This will greatly help to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and promote sustainable mobility.

5. Collaborating with stakeholders: The corporation has numerous ongoing infrastructure projects that are being developed through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model. Various other business models are also being explored, such as Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT), where the Corporation does not have to make huge upfront CAPEX investments for monetization of its land banks and development of world class passenger infrastructures.

MSRTC has recently announced plans to expand its fleet of electric buses. How do you plan to ensure that the transition to electric vehicles is seamless and costeffective for MSRTC?

In line with government’s vision of upgrading 25% of Corporation’s fleet to electric, MSRTC is poised to take up the daunting task of expanding its operation to electric across Maharashtra. In order to ensure that transition to electric buses can be made seamless and cost-effective, MSRTC has taken the following measures.

1. Identification of depots and charging infrastructure locations: Before making the transition to electric buses, it was important to determine the depot locations for operations and transit charging points. Various other factors such as the constant availability of electricity for charging infrastructure, load factor of routes, route length, etc., have been taken into consideration.

2. Development of a comprehensive plan: A comprehensive plan is being developed to ensure a smooth transition to electric buses. The plan includes details on procurement, financing, charging infrastructure, training, operations and maintenance.

3. Consultation with industry experts: To ensure a successful transition, MSRTC has hired and consulted industry experts who have experience in implementing electric bus projects. This is to help identify potential challenges and provide guidance on best practices.

4. Provide financial incentives: MSRTC has already tendered for procurement of 150 electric buses on GCC Model. In order to encourage participation from OEMs and as per DHI guidelines under the FAME II scheme, MSRTC has disbursed financial incentive in the form of subsidy to the OEMs. For, subsequent procurements MSRTC intends to follow a similar subsidy model.

5. Build charging infrastructure: One of the biggest challenges in transitioning to electric buses is the availability of charging infrastructure and the huge upfront CAPEX. To overcome this challenge, charging infrastructure shall be built in strategic and prime MSRTC locations. The funds for the same are being sought from the state government.

6. Ensure deployment of trained staffs: Since the procurement of electric buses shall be on GCC Model, the responsibility of providing drivers and maintenance of buses shall rest with the supplier. However, MSRTC shall ensure that the resources deployed are qualified and trained to handle electric bus operations.

7. Monitor performance: Finally, it’s crucial to monitor the performance of electric buses to ensure that they are operating efficiently and that any issues are identified and addressed promptly. This monitoring shall include regular data collection and analysis of energy consumption, maintenance costs, and vehicle performance.

MSRTC has been undertaking several initiatives to improve the safety and comfort of passengers, such as the installation of CCTV cameras, GPS systems, and panic buttons in buses. What impact have these measures had on passenger satisfaction and safety?

MSRTC had installed Vehicle Tracking Devices (VTD) in 17,000+ buses for real-time monitoring and tracking of its fleets. MSRTC has also installed a central command and control centre for real-time tracking of fleet movement and any alert generated by vehicle and passenger. Further, installation of panic buttons is being done keeping in mind the safety of women passengers. Punctuality is being tracked for trips operated. All MSRTC depots are under CCTV surveillance to safeguard against any untoward incident. These type of safety measures have instilled a sense of safety in MSRTC’s commuters, making MSRTC a first choice for travel especially on long distance and inter-city routes.

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MSRTC is one of the largest employers in Maharashtra, providing jobs and livelihoods to thousands of people. What initiatives are you taking to promote employee welfare, skill development, and career advancement within MSRTC?

There are several initiatives that MSRTC takes to promote employee welfare, skill development, and career advancement, viz:

1. Employee wellness programs: Every year free annual health check-ups are conducted by MSRTC for its employees.

2. Training and development programs: MSRTC on a regular basis arranges trainings both for its drivers as well as management level employees. Drivers are sent for refresher trainings at defined intervals. Leadership development programs are also arranged for MSRTC employees at both national and international level. These trainings help them to study and understand the best practices being undertaken across various transport organizations across the globe.

3. Promotion and succession planning: MSRTC has performance evaluations and skills assessments for identification of high-potential employees. Based on the capabilities, MSRTC decides on the deployment and succession planning for taking over critical projects.

4. Diversity and inclusion initiatives: MSRTC believes in promoting diversity that creates an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued and supported. MSRTC has in the past recruited women drivers and conductors without prejudice.

5. Recognition and rewards programs: Every year MSRTC recognizes the efforts of its drivers and rewards them for accident-free service. MSRTC is also planning and designing a reward program for its employees across the state based on achieving operational targets and profitability.

What are your future initiatives to modernize and improve the organization’s operations and services? How do you envision MSRTC’s role in supporting the state’s economic development and growth in the coming years?

There are several future initiatives that shall help modernize and improve the operations and services of bus transport organizations, leading to better customer satisfaction, increased ridership, and a more sustainable future.

1. Adoption of technology: The use of technology shall greatly enhance the efficiency of bus transport operations leading to better services. For example, the use of GPS tracking systems and bus and crew scheduling can help optimize bus routes, reduce fuel consumption, and improve the accuracy of arrival and departure times. OBD device which is a standard way to access many types of vehicle related data, including real-time parameters such as RPM, speed, pedal position, emission readiness status etc. shall greatly enhance vehicle performance through insights on preventive maintenance.

2. Investment in electric and alternate fuel buses: MSRTC has future plans to shift majority of its diesel bus operations to electric and alternate fuels such as CNG and LNG. The use of these buses shall reduce emissions and provide a more sustainable mode of transport.

3. Customer-centric approach: MSRTC is poised to adopt a customer-centric approach by improving passenger experience through initiatives such as providing real-time updates, comfortable seating, and better accessibility for women and senior citizens.

4. Integration with other transport modes: MSRTC has future plans of integration with other modes of transport, such as trains, metros so as to provide passengers with a seamless and convenient travel experience. This can be achieved through initiatives such as integrated ticketing systems and improved intermodal connectivity.

5. Data-driven decision making: MSRTC shall increase its focus on greater use of data analytics to make informed decisions on route planning, fleet management, and service improvements. By analyzing passenger data, the corporation shall identify trends and areas for improvement, leading to better services.

6. Asset Monetization: MSRTC has plans to monetize its land banks on build, Operate and Transfer Model (BOT) through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). MSRTC plans to commercially explore business opportunities by building logistics parks, warehouses, cold storages, modern bus ports, etc., which shall indirectly lead to thousands of job creations in the state and contribute to the state GDP.

MSRTC plays a critical role in providing affordable and accessible transportation to people across Maharashtra, including in rural and remote areas. How are you addressing the challenges of serving these diverse communities, and what steps are you taking to ensure that MSRTC’s services are accessible and equitable for all passengers, regardless of their location or background?

MSRTC believes in the philosophy of transportation for all. For this purpose, MSRTC has been running certain obligatory trips across Maharashtra to benefit the commuters of the state, especially in rural and mofussil areas. MSRTC also has various schemes and concessions for its travellers to make trips affordable. For example, there are discounts in fare for students and senior citizens travelling in MSRTC buses. Senior citizens aged 75 and above can travel free of cost in MSRTC buses, and the same facility is available for female students (till class 12). Currently, MSRTC has 29 different types of concessional schemes for its passengers. Further, MSRTC ticket pricing (stage-wise fare) is standard and same irrespective of location of operation.

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The transportation industry is undergoing rapid technological change, with innovations such as electric and autonomous vehicles promising to transform the way we move people and goods. How is MSRTC preparing for this new era of transportation, and what investments are you making in new technologies and infrastructure to ensure that MSRTC remains competitive and relevant in the years ahead?

With the change in the technological landscape in the transportation industry, MSRTC is ready to imbibe and adopt the changes. MSRTC is making sizable investments in modernization of the Corporation. Implementation of projects like ERP will greatly help MSRTC attain internal efficiency. MSRTC shall emphasize on implementation of digital transformation projects like ETIM-ORS (ETIM-ORS 3.0) that will promote ease of ticketing and a cashless economy. Other ITMS projects such as bus and crew scheduling, and vehicle tracking systems will supplement the MSRTC operation and help in better decisionmaking.

On the procurement front, MSRTC intends to focus on GCC mode of procurement with special emphasis on procurement of electric and alternate fuel vehicles. The Corporation intends to gradually shift to an asset-light model of operation which shall be sustainable in the long term.

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