NEW DELHI: After a gap of 21 years, Madhya Pradesh relaunched its public transport bus service, ‘Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva’, on September 25 on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Àagged oႇ the service at Dussehra Maidan in Govindpura (BHEL) area of Bhopal.
The state Government said the relaunch is inspired by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy of Antyodaya, aiming to provide aႇordable, safe and accessible transport to the rural and urban population, especially the last mile.
The Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation was closed in the early 2000s, leaving public transport largely dependent on private operators. The new initiative seeks to bring back a regulated, technology-enabled and viable public transport system on public private partnership (PPP) model.
At the launch, 351 intercity and intracity buses from seven cities were Àagged oႇ simultaneously. This includes 145 buses in Indore (50 intercity and 95 intracity), 106 buses in Bhopal (23 intercity and 83 intracity), 67 buses in Jabalpur (14 intercity and 53 intracity), 18 intercity buses in Rewa, 10 intercity buses in Dewas, three in Katni and two intercity buses in Bhind.
Under the Mukhyamantri Sugam Transport Service, the Government has set a target of operating 15,000 buses by 2031, with 1,500 buses in the ¿rst year and the addition of 2,500 to 3,000 buses annually thereafter.
Buses will be equipped with modern amenities with the focus on safety and will have features like GPS, panic button, CCTV and digital ticketing. Transparent contracting system and incentive schemes will be implemented to promote the PPP model.
