MSRTC registers Rs five cr profit

Pune, Apr 20 (UNI) The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has registered a profit of Rs five crore for the first time in eight years after implementing a seven-point revamp programme undertaken in September 2006 and the special ''Pravasi vadhva, ST vadhva'' drive.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the Airtel PCO Re 1 service in the state-run buses, MSRTC Chairman Sudhakar Paricharak said here today that a turnaround of the Corporation has happened in the last quarter of 2006-'07.

The MSRTC Chairman attributed the success to the cash incentives and better management of new buses. ''We had already studied the decline in resources and the service. The findings showed there was capacity for one crore passengers, but we were providing for only 58 lakh commuters. The remaining 42 lakh capacity was not just vacant but was being weaned away by private operators.'' He said till 1988, MSRTC enjoyed a monopoly. But with amendments in law, illegal passenger traffic through the private operators snatched the advantage.

''From January to March this year, the Corporation registered an increase of Rs one crore monthly and netted Rs 60 crore. Although the audited results have still to be announced, the Corporation has registered a profit of Rs five crore approximately,'' he said adding that focus is on improvements like widescale computerisation, cleanliness in depots, high tech comfortable services, among others.

Among the changes, he said henceforth services in rural areas will be given priority and good, new buses deployed there. The popular Volvo's were turning out to be expensive as the cost per bus has gone up and there was a difference of nearly Rs 20 lakh between them and the Chinese buses.

''We have already hired two, and 60 more will be bought as their performance is as good. Besides CNG buses will ply between Pune-Mumbai and Panvel-Dadar by July,'' he said adding that depots will be further strengthened and rural services increased.

When asked about the proposed strike by MSRTC employees on April 25 against privatisation and bifurcation of the company, the Chairman said that a meeting of all the unions has been called tomorrow to discuss the matter at Mumbai. ''We are against privatisation and the bifurcation, we will discuss the matter and take a decision tomorrow,'' he said.

UNI