Sankhali: Public bus transport services will be regularised across all rural areas of the state, ensuring last house connectivity, under the state’s Mhaji Bus scheme, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday at Surla.
The initiative aims to provide daily transportation from rural villages to city areas from morning till night.
The Chief Minister flagged off trial bus services in the Surla region, benefiting residents who previously had to walk 2 to 3 km to reach transport points. The service will run 365 days a year and will be subsidised at Rs 3 per km, with scope for an increased subsidy if necessary.
Sawant said the scheme will be a boon for students—especially women—as well as private sector employees commuting at various hours. He called on the public to treat the scheme as a shared initiative and cooperate to ensure its success.
“If everyone considers this as ‘mhaji bus’, the service will definitely gain momentum,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has been tasked with making special arrangements to extend the bus network to the remotest parts of the state.
“Students and women should feel safe in all areas, even where there are currently no bus services. This scheme is being implemented keeping safety and access in mind,” he said.
Addressing broader concerns, Sawant said that the existing public transport system is not functioning efficiently. He announced that solar lighting would be installed in areas where safety is a concern.
To reduce pollution, he encouraged residents to shift from personal two- and four-wheelers to the new public transport system. “This system will help reduce vehicle congestion and environmental harm,” he said.
He urged the Padmini Foundation, which organised the launch event, to implement similar services across all constituencies and promote the use of public buses among daily commuters.
Sawant also advised parents not to allow children under 18 years to use two-wheelers, citing frequent accidents. “Parents must take all precautions while giving bikes to their children,” he said.
The scheme was inaugurated in the presence of local residents, officials, and dignitaries.
