The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will examine conductorless bus services and expanded digital ticketing as part of a plan to reduce operating costs and increase revenue, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said at a review meeting in Mumbai on September 3.
Sarnaik directed officials to prioritise conductorless operations on selected routes while ensuring that passengers continue to receive timely, safe, clean and reliable services. The proposal is intended to reduce expenditure associated with conductors, although the MSRTC has not yet identified the routes, operating conditions or timeline for implementation.
The meeting was held at the MSRTC headquarters to review measures for improving the corporation’s revenue position. MSRTC Vice-President and Managing Director Dr Madhav Kusekar, department heads, regional managers and divisional controllers attended the meeting, according to Loksatta – Mumbai.
Alongside the conductorless service proposal, Sarnaik asked officials to prepare plans for wider use of digital ticketing, QR codes, smart cards and other modern technologies. The measures are expected to support ticket sales and payment collection while reducing reliance on manual processes. The report did not specify which digital systems would be adopted, how they would be integrated or when they would be introduced.
Sarnaik said increasing ticket fares alone could not be the corporation’s only route to financial stability. He called for new revenue sources, tighter control over unnecessary expenditure and more efficient use of available staff and resources. The review also focused on delivering services based on passenger needs, changing travel patterns and local demand.
The proposed shift would place greater importance on the way passengers access and validate tickets on routes where conductors may not be deployed. The source report did not provide details on staffing arrangements, passenger assistance, inspection procedures or provisions for people who may not be able to use digital ticketing. Those operational questions will need to be addressed before any conductorless service is introduced.
Sarnaik said passenger satisfaction should remain central to the MSRTC’s financial plans. He described the corporation as an essential part of the daily lives of people across Maharashtra and said modernisation would have to proceed without compromising passenger interests. The minister’s stated objective was to strengthen the corporation financially while maintaining an efficient, economical and passenger-focused public transport service.
The next steps are for MSRTC officials to prepare plans for conductorless operations and the use of digital ticketing technologies. The meeting did not announce a launch date, selected routes or a formal implementation schedule.
