Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav marked a historic day for Madhya Pradesh by launching the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari. At the state-level programme, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav flagged off 351 intercity and intracity buses in seven cities. After the programme, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav himself travelled by bus from BHEL Dussehra Maidan to the Chief Minister’s Residence after purchasing a ticket.
More Than 15,000 Buses to Be Rolled Out in Phases on Over 3,500 Routes
The Transport Department has launched Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva to provide accessible, safe, modern and environment-friendly transport facilities to the people of the state. The service will strengthen bus connectivity in urban and rural areas and extend transport services to 75% of gram panchayats. Under the intercity and interstate bus service, more than 15,000 buses will be rolled out in phases across over 3,500 routes over the next five years. This will make travel more convenient for people in cities, small towns and rural areas across the state. The integrated transport system will help reduce travel time and make journeys more convenient.
Modern and convenient bus stops, bus terminals and bus depots for private bus operators will be developed across the state. Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva will feature modern, environment-friendly buses, with priority given to online ticketing and EV and CNG buses. A 24x7 customer care facility will be available for the prompt resolution of passenger complaints and issues based on their feedback.
Buses Flagged Off from Programme Venue
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav inaugurated the state-level programme of Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva at BHEL Dussehra Maidan by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
In the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav and Union Minister Shri Gadkari, an MoU for the operation of Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva was exchanged between the Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Yatri Parivahan and Infrastructure Limited Shri Manish Singh and the Director of the School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, Professor Dr. Kailash Rao M.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav and Union Minister Shri Gadkari virtually dedicated the buses under Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva and the PM e-Bus Sewa by pressing a single button and flagged them off from the programme venue.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Jagdish Devda, Bhopal in-charge Minister Shri Chaitanya Kashyap, Cooperative Minister Shri Vishwas Sarang and Minister of State Smt. Krishna Gaur were present at the state-level programme.
New Chapter Written in Fulfilling the Resolve to Serve the People
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said, addressing the gathering at BHEL Dussehra Maidan, that on the occasion of Seva-Sankalp Month, being observed from September 17 to October 17 to mark the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the proponent of Integral Humanism, public bus transport services were being restarted in Madhya Pradesh after 21 years. He said a new chapter had been written in fulfilling the resolve to serve the people.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said the state’s road transport services would also benefit people in remote tribal areas. The state government has resolved to provide services to the poor and needy. He said that a vast network of roads and highways was being developed across the state with the support of Union Minister Shri Gadkari.
Special Arrangements for Passenger Convenience and Safety
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva and PM e-Bus Sewa would usher in a modern and unique model of public transport. Various facilities and monitoring systems, including CCTV cameras, panic buttons, emergency doors, GPS tracking, online ticketing and grievance redressal mechanisms, have been put in place to ensure passenger convenience and safety. Arrangements have also been made for driver training and safety management. He said that by 2029, saffron-coloured buses would be operating on all routes, providing convenient connectivity to major cities, pilgrimage centres and metropolitan cities across the country. Well-organised bus stands, bus stops and charging stations, along with an efficient control system, have also been planned keeping passenger convenience in mind.
State Government Committed to Fulfilling People’s Aspirations
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Balaghat district, which has now been freed from Naxalism, is set to receive a new development initiative. He said that the government had overcome all challenges affecting security and peace. The state government had also ensured the proper management and disposal of waste from Union Carbide in Bhopal. He said that all ministers were working with commitment to fulfil the hopes and aspirations. The Madhya Pradesh Government has strengthened electricity, water, roads and rural infrastructure, he added.
Employment and Job Opportunities Available for Youth across Sectors
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the government was continuously working towards service, good governance and welfare. Employment and job opportunities have been created for youth across various sectors, with more than 85,000 government posts filled over the past year. Appointment letters were handed over to Mineral Department inspectors on Thursday, September 24. Recruitment to 18,000 posts in the Police Department, along with teacher and assistant professor recruitment, is underway. He said the state government would fill one lakh government posts during the current year. Meanwhile, under the Year of Farmer Welfare, the people of the state had received the benefit of two river-linking projects — the Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal projects.
The poor and needy are also being provided air ambulance services in the state. Saving the lives of even the poorest is the resolve of the state government, he said.
Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva to Benefit the Poor and Needy
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari said that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya had shown the path of serving the person at the last rung of society. He said the launch of Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva and PM e-Bus Sewa was an important step towards making transport facilities more accessible for the people of Madhya Pradesh. The service would also benefit the poor and needy.
Recalling the earlier era of state transport services in Madhya Pradesh, Shri Gadkari said that there was a time when everything except the bus bell would make a sound inside buses. He said the Madhya Pradesh Government had revived public transport with an innovative approach.
Madhya Pradesh has received 972 PM e-buses. Shri Gadkari said there was a need to operate 25,000 electric AC buses in the state. Madhya Pradesh currently has eight vehicle scrapping centres, while 21 more need to be established. Approval has been given to open six additional operational testing centres. Twenty-nine driving training centres have already been approved, and another 61 centres are now being provided.
Union Minister Shri Gadkari said there was considerable potential to generate employment by partnering with cab aggregators. State governments would need to work in this direction, and he said the initiative could provide employment to 4–5 million youth in Madhya Pradesh.
Mission to Reduce ₹22 Lakh Crore Petroleum, Diesel and Gas Imports
Union Minister Shri Gadkari said that governance is now increasingly being evaluated on the basis of happiness indices. He said the government was working to provide people with a happier life through better roads, water, food and healthcare facilities. Construction of better roads was also part of this effort. The Union Minister said that the country imports petroleum products, diesel and gas worth ₹22 lakh crore and that reducing these imports was his mission. He recalled that he had the privilege of flagging off the country’s first electric bus, car, scooter and auto-rickshaw.
Vehicles equipped with flex-fuel engines are being developed in the country, with ethanol used as fuel. Many countries around the world operate vehicles on ethanol-blended fuel. India began using ethanol-blended petrol in 2022. He said that a report had indicated that the use of ethanol does not damage vehicles and has also improved their mileage. The Union Minister said that India’s farmers have now become not only Annadatas but also Urjadataas — providers of energy.
Electric Mobility and Other Alternative Fuels Essential
Union Minister Shri Gadkari said electric mobility helps reduce expenditure on petrol and diesel. He said poor people should also have access to electric air-conditioned buses. It was his vision that fares on these buses should be 30% lower than those of diesel buses. An initiative has been launched to operate hydrogen-powered buses on 10 routes in the country. He said all automobile companies would now manufacture vehicles with flex-fuel engines capable of using 100% ethanol.
Union Minister Shri Gadkari said that this would help reduce the country’s dependence on petroleum and diesel imports worth ₹22 lakh crore. Farmers would produce ethanol from maize, thereby helping reduce pollution. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are receiving ₹2,600 per quintal for maize, he said. An alternative-fuel ecosystem would help create a model of economic self-reliance for the country.
City Buses Designed with the Needs of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens in Mind
Union Minister Shri Gadkari said technology could be used to convert waste into wealth. He said India had overtaken Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country’s economy is to be taken to the third position in the coming years, and the automobile industry would have a crucial role in this. A world-class body structure code has been implemented for the manufacture of e-buses in the country. Buses will now be registered only after inspection by testing agencies. Registration will be carried out only after physical and video verification against the checklist. Seventeen services of RTO offices have been digitised. He said all city buses had been designed keeping the convenience of persons with disabilities and senior citizens in mind.
Dream of the People of the State Becoming a Reality
Transport Minister Shri Uday Pratap Singh said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the dream of the people of the state was becoming a reality through Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva and PM e-Bus Sewa. On the Jayanti of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav and Union Minister Shri Gadkari had gifted 351 intercity and intracity buses to the people of the state. State transport services were being restarted after 21 years, following a long-standing demand. He described the day as historic in the history of the state and said Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva was an important step towards making public transport more accessible, safe and modern. He added that the interests of bus owners have also been taken into consideration.
Lokpath App Becomes a Smart Travel Partner for Citizens
Public Works Minister Shri Rakesh Singh said that today was a landmark day for transport facilities in the state. The fully equipped buses were a major gift for passengers. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, Madhya Pradesh had emerged among the leading states in providing convenient transport facilities along with connectivity, mobility and environmental protection. The Public Works Department is working in coordination with all departments.
The department has developed the Lokpath App for reporting and addressing potholes on roads, which has also emerged as a smart travel partner for citizens. The timetable of buses operating under Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva will also be available on the Lokpath App.
Union Minister Shri Gadkari reviewed the construction work on ongoing highway projects in the state. He also approved the temporary closure of the Shahpura toll plaza.
Bus Connectivity to Be Strengthened in Urban and Rural Areas
State President and senior MLA Shri Hemant Khandelwal said that Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva was being launched as a service initiative on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The objective is to strengthen bus connectivity in urban and rural areas and provide citizens with safe, convenient, modern and environment-friendly public transport. He said Union Minister Shri Gadkari had developed an extensive road etwork across the state, and the new transport service would now connect gram panchayats with cities. Farmers, labourers, youth and women, along with people from all sections of society, would benefit from the bus service.
Bhopal Mayor Smt. Malti Rai and MLAs Shri Rameshwar Sharma, Shri Vishnu Khatri and Shri Bhagwan Das Sabnani were present at the programme.
