17 March,2026 10:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pratap Sarnaik said that the transition would take place in phases. File Pic/X
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will convert its entire fleet of buses to electric vehicles by 2037, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik announced, reported the PTI.
Speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Monday, Sarnaik said that the transition would take place in phases as part of the state's broader plan to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility.
The MSRTC currently operates a fleet of around 22,000 buses across the state. Of these, approximately 800 are already electric buses.
According to the minister, the corporation aims to gradually replace its existing diesel-powered vehicles so that the entire fleet becomes electric by 2037. If achieved, MSRTC would become the first transport corporation in Maharashtra to operate a fully electric bus fleet, according to the PTI,
Sarnaik also stated that the state government envisages a future where all vehicles in Maharashtra will be electric by 2047.
This long-term vision forms part of the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, which outlines incentives and infrastructure plans to promote the adoption of electric vehicles across the state, as per the PTI,
Under the policy, electric vehicles are eligible for a 100 per cent toll waiver on key highways including the Atal Setu, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, the news agency reported.
The minister added that the government is also offering financial incentives for individuals opting for electric vehicles.
To support the growing EV ecosystem, charging infrastructure is being developed along highways, with charging stations planned approximately every 25 kilometres across the state, officials said.
Earlier this month, Sarnaik had said that the government has decided to build modern âbusports' across the state on the lines of Gujarat.
The state transport minister said that a new policy has been formulated for the comprehensive development of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) depots and bus stations.
Sarnaik further stated that under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, modern state transport bus stations equipped with enhanced passenger amenities would be developed across Maharashtra.
Srnaik also added that the new policy focuses on extended lease terms, passenger facilities, economic impact and balanced regional development. "To boost commercial development, the lease agreement for ST bus station and depot projects has been fixed at 49 + 49 years (98 years). This provision aims to encourage investors and ensure long-term revenue for the MSRTC," said Sarnaik.
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
