Rajasthan Government Begins RSRTC Overhaul with 1300 New Buses, Depot Upgrades, EV Push

Time of India

a day ago

The Rajasthan government has launched a broad reform initiative to modernise the
Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation
(
RSRTC
) under its successive state budgets 2024–25 and 2025–26. The initiatives focus on augmenting bus fleet size, improving infrastructure, introducing electric vehicles (EVs), adopting digital systems, and streamlining financial management.
Shubhra Singh
,
Chairperson RSRTC
, informed that the reforms are being carried out to revitalize operations by modernizing assets, enhancing institutional efficiency, and proactively transforming challenges into opportunities for long-term resilience and sustainable performance.
RSRTC's bus fleet has declined from about 5,000 buses in 2017–18 to approximately 3,500 in 2024–25. Of the current fleet, around 1,400 vehicles, are more than a decade old though safe for operations, and are slated for decommissioning in this year. In a decisive boost to RSRTC, the state government has sanctioned the procurement of 1,300 new buses.
These will include deluxe intercity buses, Blue Line services, Volvo coaches, and electric buses. In the
National Capital Region
(NCR), the corporation plans to phase out all 900 diesel-run buses. Of these, 300 electric vehicles are being procured through the state government budget, while an additional 600 EVs are expected to be added through the central government's PM E-DRIVE scheme.
Once these new buses are incorporated, RSRTC's total fleet strength is expected to return to nearly 5,000 by the end of the financial year. The deployment model includes both direct operation and the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, under which private operators run buses on fixed contracts with RSRTC. In 2024, RSRTC initiated infrastructure renewal across existing depots by raising a loan of INR 66 Crore. Presently, 76 bus stands and workshops are being renovated with individual project costs ranging from INR 50 lakhs to INR 3.5 Crore.
The renovation will not only face lift the aesthetics of bus stands but will also improve the passenger-centric facilities such as lighting, seating,sanitation etc. 40 additional bus stands are scheduled for similar upgrades in this financial year. The state has also proposed constructing state-of-the-art bus stands known as "Bus Port." These bus terminals will function as multi-modal transit hubs, combining passenger waiting areas, food courts, EV charging stations, and commercial outlets. According to Singh, feasibility studies for this ambitious initiative have already been conducted for eight different locations in the state viz. Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Beawar, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara and Bundi. The objective is to upgrade depots into transit centres that allow smoother transfers, improve passenger
convenience, and generate non-fare revenue. These bus ports will change the idea of a typical bus stand and will provide impetus to RSRTC's bid for monetizing its land assets.
To address operational expansion, the State Government has approved the recruitment of 500 conductors. In addition, the corporation has also hired civil defence personnels to work as conductors. Singh stated that hiring is being prioritised in line with the projected increase in fleet and maintenance responsibilities. A new operational accountability model has also been introduced under the 'Meri Bus
Meri Zimmedaari
' scheme, in which each mechanic is assigned a specific bus. The aim is to improve day-to-day upkeep and ensure better maintenance records across the fleet.
Technology upgrades have also been rolled out across RSRTC's operations. All new and existing buses are being fitted with panic buttons, GPS-based telematics, and CCTV cameras. Panic buttons enable emergency alerts, particularly to enhance women's safety. GPS devices track stop durations, speeds, and route adherence, while onboard CCTV will be used to monitor fare collection and deter misconduct. This has also resulted in an increase of diesel mileage and reduction in accident rates. On the ticketing side, RSRTC is revamping its e-ticketing system to integrate with the National Common
Mobility Card
(NCMC), allowing seamless transactions across bus, rail, and metro systems. In addition to passenger-facing tech, back-end operations—including logistics, procurement, HR, and maintenance—are being digitised.
As part of its EV strategy, the state is examining the feasibility to install solar-powered charging stations at select depots and planned bus ports. Rajasthan's solar power generation capacity, Singh said, makes on-site photovoltaic charging viable. Although the central schemes currently focus on intra-city transport such as Jaipur's city bus services, the state is advocating for its expansion to inter-city transport under RSRTC. This would allow EV operations to scale sustainably across
longer routes.
The corporation has also introduced route rationalisation as a cost-saving measure. Buses are now scheduled to run a standard average of 400 kilometres per day, improving fuel efficiency and reducing idle time. Low-performing or loss-making routes have been curtailed, while services on profitable routes have been expanded. This reallocation has reduced unnecessary mileage and operational losses. The corporation has also cleared dues related to employee payments and vendor contracts. Singh said the salary and gratuity payment system which were earlier delayed by up to three months, have now been streamlined. A significant milestone was the clearance of pending overtime allowances, amounting to ₹123 crores, honoring the commitment to employee welfare and a major step toward restoring trust and boosting employee morale. Training activities for field employees such as drivers and conductors were also conducted to boost employee productivity, enhance skills, and promote operational excellence.
RSRTC Cuts Losses by ₹57 Crore, Boosts Daily Revenue
Singh credited the efforts of Managing Director
Purusottam Sharma
and the dedicated teamwork for the turnaround in RSRTC's financial performance over the past year. The corporation has reduced its annual losses by ₹56–57 crore compared to previous year. This improvement is attributed to stricter enforcement of fare collection. Conductors caught with more than two instances of ticketless passengers face suspension, and random inspections have increased. These efforts have led to an increase in daily earnings, which have gone up from an average of ₹4.75 crore to ₹6 crore per day, occasionally peaking at ₹7.6 crore during peak travel periods.
Passenger service upgrades have been introduced across the network. Depots are undergoing audits based on sanitation, lighting, seating, and overall upkeep. Each depot is being classified as A, B, or C grade to determine the scale of improvement required. Within buses, changes include improved lighting, route display systems, and public address announcements. Passengers can also access a new mobile application to track buses in real time, check availability, and manage digital ticket bookings. Singh noted that the introduction of such tools is aimed at restoring public trust and ensuring service predictability. The Chairperson also highlighted that passenger convenience has remained the focus of the State Government and in view of that, RSRTC has initiated a pilot 'Bus Hostess' facility where Passengers are provided with high-quality food and beverage options to ensure a pleasant and satisfying travel experience. The facility is being run on an experimental basis and is expected to be rolled out on all Deluxe buses soon.
The overall restructuring programme covers a wide set of operational parameters and is being implemented in phases through coordinated budgeting and monitoring. Shubhra Singh stated that the current approach focuses on strengthening public transport operations through capacity building, modernization, and improved fiscal discipline. The corporation is monitoring progress through internal audits and passenger feedback and plans to evaluate measurable impact by the end of the fiscal year.
The reforms come at a time when state-run transport services in India are facing financial stress and declining ridership. With an emphasis on asset utilisation, digital governance, and electric mobility, RSRTC is at the cusp of major transformation and may be soon seen as a possible reference point for similar interventions in other states.