MSRTC to make snacks, juices available on state transport buses to save on travel time
MSRTC to make snacks, juices available on state transport buses to save on travel time
The state transport passengers now have a reason to smile as officials have planned to make cold drinks, snacks, and fruit juices available on the buses throughout the journey.
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| Cool ride: Now you won't have to get down to buy snacks during your trip on MSRTC buses. representation pic |
"The idea is approved by the senior officers of the state transport and we will be giving advertisements for the expression of interest from the parties. After this, we will float the tenders and start the service soon," said a state transport official.
The contract will be given out on a five-year basis initially and the agency that will get the contract will have to pay a certain amount to Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). The service will be started in all the air-conditioned (AC) and non-AC buses. There are 72 AC buses and more than 1000 semi-luxury buses available with the state transport.
"This will be easier because there are two seats per row and standees are not allowed to board the bus. The salesman will get his space to sell the snacks and passengers will also feel comfortable buying," he added.
According to the state transport official, this service will also save time of travel. AC buses halt for 10 minutes on Mumbai Pune expressway that usually extends to half an hour. "Now if passengers will find eatables and water in the bus itself, why will they opt to go down and eat."
Recently, BEST officials had rejected the idea of selling snacks and cold drinks in its King Long buses. The officials had said that they did not want to make their buses dirty like local trains.
"We don't want AC buses to go the way of local trains. With their lack of civic sense, even if we had provided dustbins, passengers would have littered the bus with leftovers," a BEST committee member had said. The officials had a fear that allowing the promotional activities of edible products in the buses will invite rats and cockroaches inside the buses.
"This is a serious concern but we have already discussed these issues. We will place dustbins inside the bus and passengers will have to strictly put garbage in the dustbins only," said the official, adding that he is hopeful passengers will take care of cleanliness.
Passengers are excited about the proposal. Renu Kumar, a frequent traveler to Shirdi, said, "It will be a good venture provided there is no littering. Closed dustbins should be provided, the absence of which might plague promote growth of bacteria and contamination ultimately spreading dangerous diseases."
The service is expected to start early next year. Deepak Kapoor, managing director, MSRTC, said, "We will be starting the service soon and passengers will be benefited."
