MSRTC begins conversion of Shivshahi AC buses into part of regular Hirkani fleet
(
) has started the process of converting its once popular and premier Shivshahi bus fleet into regular buses, with the entire fleet conversion set to take two years to execute, officials told TOI.
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These semi-luxury air-conditioned buses, first introduced in 2017 and initially hugely popular, are now infamous for technical problems resulting in multiple breakdowns and road accidents. "The conversion work has started, and these buses are being given the normal look of MSRTC's Hirkani buses. In fact, the Shivshahi buses will be converted into regular Hirkani buses, which are non-AC, and will be released on different routes.
The whole process to convert all the buses will take around two years," Abhijit Bhosle, public relations officer with the state transport body, told TOI.
Another official said that at present, seven buses are in the process of getting converted. "Once they are changed, they will be operated for some time for checks, following which we will move ahead. The Shivshahi fleet consists of a total of 790 buses, and they all will be changed to regular buses in a phased manner.
By the end of this year, we expect to change around 40-45 Shivshahi buses into Hirkani ones," the official said.
Amit Dhotre, a middle-aged working professional who uses MSRTC services, questioned the plan. "How and why has MSRTC not been able to maintain these buses? They were a huge hit, and the fares were pocket-friendly for people who wanted to travel in AC buses. Then, right after the pandemic, the buses started having so many issues and problems.
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If MSRTC is spending crores of rupees in procurement of e-buses, what is stopping them from maintaining the Shivshahi fleet? Converting them into regular buses must be costing more money than what is needed for proper repairs and maintenance," he said.
Darshan Kayande posted a video on online platform X on Saturday, showing rainwater entering a Shivshahi bus. "We pay 15% more fare than a normal MSRTC bus for this type of luxury," he wrote.
Sources in the state transport body said that the focus of state govt is currently on e-buses. However, converting these Shivshahi buses into e-buses would have been too costly. So, as they can still operate, they are being altered into regular buses," another official told TOI.
While commuters were unhappy about the plan for Shivshahi buses, they expressed relief that the 'Shivneri Sundari' plan — wherein MSRTC had planned hostesses in Shivneri buses between Pune and Mumbai — was scrapped, citing that this was another waste of funds.
Confirming the cancellation, PRO Bhosle said, "The plan has been scrapped for now."
Commuter Rahul Parashar, who travels between the two cities often, said, "It is good that they are not going ahead with the hostess plan. There are more pressing and urgent issues MSRTC needs to deal with at present — the foremost being increasing the fleet size."
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