Tender Process for 5,000 ‘Lalpari’ Buses Completed
Mumbai, September 2026: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), popularly known as ST, is an integral part of the daily lives of ordinary passengers across Maharashtra. With the objective of providing safer, more comfortable, quality and reliable public transport services, the corporation has accelerated the expansion and modernisation of its bus fleet.
Transport Minister and Chairman of MSRTC Pratap Sarnaik said the tender process for procuring 5,000 new ‘Lalpari’ buses has been completed as part of efforts to strengthen ST services through the addition of new buses.
The lowest bid in the tender process has been submitted by Tata Motors, a reputed and trusted company. Minister Sarnaik expressed confidence that there would be no compromise on the quality of the buses.
Sarnaik said the induction of 5,000 new ‘Lalpari’ buses would provide a major boost to ST, which serves as the lifeline of rural Maharashtra. The new buses will reduce the pressure on the existing fleet and make it possible to increase the availability of bus services, thereby providing better facilities to passengers.
The new fleet is also expected to help address problems associated with old and poorly maintained buses, including buses breaking down during journeys. More than 5,000 old buses are expected to be phased out of passenger service over the next six months.
MSRTC has already begun modernising its fleet. As part of this process, 2,640 ‘Lalpari’ buses with a 2x2 seating configuration have been inducted into the fleet. In addition, the process of introducing 3,000 ‘Rajmata Jijau’ buses with a 3x2 seating arrangement is currently underway.
The addition of new buses is expected to make the ST fleet younger, more capable and better suited to the needs of passengers.
Once the new 5,000 buses are inducted, efforts will be made to provide a bus service wherever there is a demand, under the principle of making a bus available wherever passengers require one.
Minister Sarnaik appealed to those demanding additional bus services to ensure that such services would not operate at a loss. He said that even if a particular bus service did not generate significant benefits, those seeking the service should provide an assurance that the route would not incur losses.
The addition of 5,000 ‘Lalpari’ buses is also expected to mark an important phase in the traditional diesel-bus era of MSRTC. Following this phase, the corporation will accelerate its transition towards environmentally friendly electric buses.
This will enable the corporation to provide modern transport facilities to passengers while giving greater priority to environmental protection.
Sarnaik said the major addition to the ST fleet should not be viewed merely as an increase in the number of buses. It represents an important step towards improving the safety, comfort and quality of travel for millions of citizens who rely on ST for their daily journeys.
He said the corporation is preparing to fulfil its motto of “For the Service of Passengers” more effectively by moving forward with renewed strength, new technology and a commitment to an environmentally sustainable future.
