In a major relief to school and college-going students across Maharashtra, Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik has announced that ST (State Transport) bus passes will now be delivered directly to educational institutions, eliminating the need for students to stand in long queues at depots or pass centers.
The initiative will be rolled out from June 16, coinciding with the start of the new academic year. Sarnaik explained that the state government provides a 66.66% concession on monthly ST passes for students, requiring them to pay only 33.33% of the fare. Additionally, under the Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Scheme, all girl students up to Class 12 receive free ST passes.
Until now, students were required to visit ST pass centers or travel in groups to depots to collect their passes. This often led to long waiting times and disruption of their academic schedules. “With this new plan, ST officials will distribute passes directly at the students’ respective schools and colleges based on the lists provided by the institutions,” Sarnaik stated.
The campaign is titled “ST Pass Direct to Your School” and will be implemented across the state starting June 16. In preparation, MSRTC depot managers have been instructed to send official letters to principals and headmasters, asking them to prepare and submit lists of all students enrolled for the new academic year.
“This innovative initiative will benefit lakhs of students statewide by saving their time and ensuring they don’t miss classes,” said Minister Sarnaik, emphasizing the state’s commitment to student welfare and accessible education.
The move is expected to streamline the process and enhance convenience for students, especially in rural and semi-urban regions where access to depots can be challenging.
