MSRTC, MSRDC Would Not Have Made Profit If Admin Was Working From Home: Uday Samant

Industries minister Uday Samant said on Tuesday that government-run bodies like MSRTC and MSRDC would not have made a profit if those running the administration had been working from home.

Government-run bodies Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRD) and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) would not have made a profit if those running the administration had been working from home, industries minister Uday Samant said on Tuesday in an apparent jibe at the previous Uddhav Thackeray dispensation.

Improved Conditions Under New Government

Addressing a press conference here, he said the condition of state-run transport bodies has improved under the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP Ajit Pawar government. The Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar government has shown miracles can happen in a government corporation or a department if you work in the field instead of sitting at home, Samant said in comments targeted at former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray without naming him.

MSRTC's Profitability

Claiming that six corporations, including MSRTC, are making a profit, the minister said it reflected the Shinde-led government's administrative skills. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's profit is proof of the Shinde government's administrative skills. For years, MSRTC was known to be a loss-making body, Samant said.

He said in the past, MSRTC did not have enough money to even pay salaries of its employees, but the corporation has now seen a big turnaround. Samant said during the Thackeray government (November 2019-June 2022), MSRTC's loss kept mounting and it faced a loss of Rs 6,300 crore between March 2020 and March 2021.

Initiatives by the Shinde Government

When the Shinde government came to power it announced free travel for senior citizens aged 75 and above and gave a 50 percent discount in tickets to women, said the Shiv Sena minister. According to Samant, all 31 divisions of MSRTC were suffering losses earlier, but now 18 of them have clocked profit.

MSRD's Success

Eknath Shinde turned MSRDC into a profitable entity, Samant said. The minister also announced that the government will soon start a helicopter service between Mumbai and Shirdi.

The improved financial performance of government-run bodies in Maharashtra under the new government is a testament to the benefits of proactive and hands-on leadership. By taking a more active role in the administration and implementing innovative initiatives, the Shinde-led government has demonstrated that it is committed to improving the efficiency and profitability of public sector undertakings.