The Maharashtra government approved a plan to convert and maintain 5,000 diesel-powered Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses to run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as part of the state-run initiative to promote green transportation. The project will cost a total of Rs 970 crore, according to a government resolution (GR).
The GR outlines the funding allocation over the next four years: Rs 40 crore for 2024-25, Rs 200 crore for 2025-26, Rs 370 crore for 2026-27, and Rs 360 crore for 2027-28. According to a resolution passed by the MSRTC board of directors on November 22 last year, the conversion and maintenance cost, including fuel provision, is estimated at Rs 19.40 lakh per bus.
An official noted that this move is expected to significantly reduce fuel costs. Additionally, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation plans to add 5,150 electric buses to its fleet, with some already in service. MSRTC currently operates a fleet of approximately 15,000 buses and transports around 60 lakh passengers daily.
