Latest news with #RohitDhende
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Similar facility in state buses but fares differ, complain commuters
Mumbai: Bus aficionado and regular commuter of state buses, Rohit Dhende, on Sunday questioned MSRTC for charging different fares for e-Shivneri and e-Shivai buses when the amenities and comfort provided to commuters were the same in both buses. "Why should one pay different fares just for different brand names and colour of buses?" he asked. He told TOI that the two buses were 12-metre-long CX2 electric coach bus models. "From the passenger's point of view, the comfort level was the same with push-back seats, air-conditioned coach, USB charger, reading lights, etc.," he said. The corporation charges a minimum fare of Rs 23 on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and Rs 17 for the white and green colour 'E-Shivai', both serving inter-city routes on a wet lease model with similar features, he added. Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said transport authority approves fare hikes as per the type of service. "Since you pointed this out, I will check and revert," Kalaskar said. Talking to a news agency, Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said he would not allow any injustice to passengers .tnn & agencies
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Business Standard
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Passengers slam MSRTC for fare disparity on e-buses with same amenities
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has invited the ire of passengers by charging higher fares for electric buses with the same features and facilities by giving them different brand names and colours. Experts and passengers have criticised the state-run corporation for the disparity in fares on the electric Shivneri and Shivai buses. The MSRTC, the country's largest state-run transport undertaking, operates a fleet of nearly 15,000 buses, ranging from non-AC services to premium air-conditioned electric coaches. In January this year, the Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) approved a 14.95 per cent hike in the MSRTC bus fares. The corporation charges Rs 21.25 per 6 km on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and Rs 15.15 for the white-green 'E-Shivai', both built on the Olectra CX2 platform that serves various intercity routes in Maharashtra since inducted in its fleet on a gross cost contract (GCC) model. According to MSRTC sources, the E-Shivneri fleet primarily operates on the Mumbai-Pune route, and the E-Shivai buses ply on the Thane-Alibag, Beed-Pune, and Nashik-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar routes. Both are 12-metre-long air-conditioned electric buses with similar features, such as push-back seats, charging points, and reading lamps. The corporation also operates some Greencell-make E-Shivai intercity buses from Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nashik and Solapur. In terms of safety and comfort features, these buses are not different from Olectra CX2 ones, sources said. Passengers have, however, slammed the corporation for charging different fares for buses of the same model without any extra services, saying the move lacked logic and transparency. "Changing the colour of a bus's exterior and seat covers does not make it a new brand. There needs to be a clear distinction in terms of facilities, ride quality, or service levels to justify different fares," bus enthusiast Rohit Dhende said. Bus enthusiasts and passengers pointed out that disparity in fares isn't limited to the air-conditioned electric bus services alone, and the case is the same with the MSRTC's ordinary and semi-luxury buses. Aditya Rane, a passenger, said over the past decade, the state-owned corporation has significantly upgraded its ordinary buses. As a result, there is no difference between these and semi-luxury buses, which charge 25 per cent more fares. He said ordinary buses now have features such as charging ports, push-back seats, and 2x2 seating, which were once exclusive to semi-luxury buses. "So why does the MSRTC still charge 25 per cent extra? Is the higher fare just for the colour or the label?" Rane questioned, adding that the corporation should either restore the quality of semi-luxury buses or charge ordinary bus fares. A V Shenoy, a transport expert, said the MSRTC has 13 different types of services, and fare slabs are unnecessarily complicated. Ideally, it should have a simplified fare chart, with four categories based on whether a bus is AC or non-AC and premium or ordinary, he said. "This will simplify ticketing for the corporation and passengers. The slabs should be in multiples of Rs 5, which will reduce the problem of keeping and counting small change," Shenoy said. Transport experts and passengers argue that the State Transport Authority (STA) should have considered these factors before approving the fare hike for MSRTC buses. When contacted, Bharat Kalaskar, additional transport commissioner, who is also secretary of the STA, said that the transport authority approves fare hikes as per the type of service and does not take the brand into consideration. "Since you pointed this out, I will check and revert," Kalaskar said. Talking to PTI, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, also chairman of the MSRTC, said he would not allow any injustice to passengers if there was so much difference in fares of two classes of buses with the same amenities. "Let me check the technical aspects. If there are more facilities (in buses), I may not be able to do anything, but we will not allow passengers to be charged more," he said.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Same bus, different fare: Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) faces flak over e-bus pricing
MUMBAI: Passengers and transport experts have raised concerns over the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) charging different fares for electric buses that offer identical facilities, calling the move confusing and unfair, news agency PTI reported. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The state-run transporter operates a fleet of around 15,000 buses across Maharashtra, including a mix of ordinary, semi-luxury, and premium air-conditioned services. Among them are two types of 12-metre electric intercity buses—E-Shivneri (blue) and E-Shivai (white-green)—both built on the same Olectra CX2 platform. Despite having the same features such as push-back seats, charging points, and reading lamps, the corporation charges Rs 21.25 per 6 km on E-Shivneri buses, compared to Rs 15.15 per 6 km on E-Shivai services. The E-Shivneri typically plies the high-demand Mumbai-Pune route, while E-Shivai buses connect cities such as Thane, Alibag, Nashik, and Beed. MSRTC also runs some Greencell-make E-Shivai buses on other intercity routes, which passengers say are functionally similar to the Olectra ones. Many commuters argue the fare difference is unjustified. 'Changing the colour of a bus's exterior and seat covers does not make it a new brand,' said Rohit Dhende, a bus enthusiast. 'There needs to be a clear distinction in ride quality or service levels to charge differently.' Passengers say this pricing issue is not limited to electric buses. Ordinary and semi-luxury buses also show minimal difference in features, despite the latter costing 25% more. 'Ordinary buses now have push-back seats and charging ports—things that were once exclusive to semi-luxury buses,' said regular commuter Aditya Rane. 'Why should we still pay extra for the label?' Transport analyst A V Shenoy called for an overhaul of MSRTC's pricing structure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'There are 13 types of services. It's unnecessarily complicated. Fares should be simplified into just four categories based on AC and premium features,' he said, recommending rounded-off pricing in multiples of ?5 to ease transactions. The issue has caught the attention of officials. Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar, who is also secretary of the State Transport Authority, said the body approves fares based on service type, not brand. 'Since you pointed this out, I will check and revert,' he told PTI. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who also chairs the MSRTC, said he would ensure passengers are not unfairly charged. 'If both classes of buses have the same facilities, we will not allow such disparity. Let me look into the technical aspects,' he said.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Passengers slam MSRTC for fare disparity on e-buses with same amenties
Mumbai, The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has invited the ire of passengers by charging higher fares for electric buses with the same features and facilities by giving them different brand names and colours. Experts and passengers have criticised the state-run corporation for the disparity in fares on the electric Shivneri and Shivai buses. The MSRTC, the country's largest state-run transport undertaking, operates a fleet of nearly 15,000 buses, ranging from non-AC services to premium air-conditioned electric coaches. In January this year, the Maharashtra State Transport Authority approved a 14.95 per cent hike in the MSRTC bus fares. The corporation charges ₹21.25 per 6 km on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and ₹15.15 for the white-green 'E-Shivai', both built on the Olectra CX2 platform that serves various intercity routes in Maharashtra since inducted in its fleet on a gross cost contract model. According to MSRTC sources, the E-Shivneri fleet primarily operates on the Mumbai-Pune route, and the E-Shivai buses ply on the Thane-Alibag, Beed-Pune, and Nashik-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar routes. Both are 12-metre-long air-conditioned electric buses with similar features, such as push-back seats, charging points, and reading lamps. The corporation also operates some Greencell-make E-Shivai intercity buses from Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nashik and Solapur. In terms of safety and comfort features, these buses are not different from Olectra CX2 ones, sources said. Passengers have, however, slammed the corporation for charging different fares for buses of the same model without any extra services, saying the move lacked logic and transparency. "Changing the colour of a bus's exterior and seat covers does not make it a new brand. There needs to be a clear distinction in terms of facilities, ride quality, or service levels to justify different fares," bus enthusiast Rohit Dhende said. Bus enthusiasts and passengers pointed out that disparity in fares isn't limited to the air-conditioned electric bus services alone, and the case is the same with the MSRTC's ordinary and semi-luxury buses. Aditya Rane, a passenger, said over the past decade, the state-owned corporation has significantly upgraded its ordinary buses. As a result, there is no difference between these and semi-luxury buses, which charge 25 per cent more fares. He said ordinary buses now have features such as charging ports, push-back seats, and 2x2 seating, which were once exclusive to semi-luxury buses. "So why does the MSRTC still charge 25 per cent extra? Is the higher fare just for the colour or the label?" Rane questioned, adding that the corporation should either restore the quality of semi-luxury buses or charge ordinary bus fares. A V Shenoy, a transport expert, said the MSRTC has 13 different types of services, and fare slabs are unnecessarily complicated. Ideally, it should have a simplified fare chart, with four categories based on whether a bus is AC or non-AC and premium or ordinary, he said. "This will simplify ticketing for the corporation and passengers. The slabs should be in multiples of ₹5, which will reduce the problem of keeping and counting small change," Shenoy said. Transport experts and passengers argue that the State Transport Authority should have considered these factors before approving the fare hike for MSRTC buses. When contacted, Bharat Kalaskar, additional transport commissioner, who is also secretary of the STA, said that the transport authority approves fare hikes as per the type of service and does not take the brand into consideration. "Since you pointed this out, I will check and revert," Kalaskar said. Talking to PTI, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, also chairman of the MSRTC, said he would not allow any injustice to passengers if there was so much difference in fares of two classes of buses with the same amenities. "Let me check the technical aspects. If there are more facilities , I may not be able to do anything, but we will not allow passengers to be charged more," he said.
