Mumbai: Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik has directed officials to cancel the tender awarded to Olectra Greentech Limited for failing to meet contractual obligations related to the supply of electric buses on a rental basis. The announcement was made during a review meeting held on Monday at the MSRTC headquarters.
The contract involved the supply of 5,150 electric buses under a wet lease agreement. However, Minister Sarnaik noted that the supplier failed to deliver even a single bus by the extended deadline of May 22, despite being asked to provide at least 1,000 buses by that date. Currently, only 220 buses are in operation.
Evey Trans Pvt. Ltd., a sister company of Olectra Greentech Limited, is responsible for operating and maintaining the buses under the lease agreement. The minister raised serious concerns about the company’s capacity to fulfill the rest of the contract and emphasized the urgent need for new buses. “If the company cannot deliver on time, the contract must be terminated without delay,” he said.
Shivshahi Buses to Be Upgraded to Hirkani
In the same meeting, Minister Sarnaik directed that existing Shivshahi buses be gradually refurbished into Hirkani (semi-luxury) buses. These upgraded buses will retain the original green and white color scheme to maintain their identity.
Crackdown on Poor Hygiene at Bus Stations
The minister also addressed issues of poor cleanliness across bus stations during a separate review at the Transport Commissioner’s office. He expressed concern over consistent complaints, especially from women passengers, regarding unhygienic conditions at various facilities. “There will be no tolerance for negligence. Officials responsible for such lapses will face strict action,” he warned.
