It’s important to remember that commuter is king

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Maharashtra's iconic red ST buses are set for a major service revamp with the launch of a statewide campaign titled ‘Aapli Bus, Aapli Seva (Our Bus, Our Service)' from May 1, 2026, reports stated.

Transport Minister and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation Chairman Pratap Sarnaik said the campaign aims to restore passengers' faith in the state transport corporation by improving punctuality, cleanliness, discipline and the overall travel experience. As part of the drive, bus drivers and conductors will no longer be seen merely as staff but as ‘sevaks' (dedicated servers). Thorough cleaning of buses before every trip, punctual arrival at bus stands, neat uniforms and disciplined behaviour by staff, drivers introducing themselves to passengers, and announcing the route, stops and expected arrival time before departure, as well as prompt assistance during the journey, are some key features of this initiative. This space has flagged the indifferent state of some ST waiting areas at some depots.

We hope this brings an overall holistic look at the entire travel experience from buses, to waiting and ticketing facilities. People must do their bit in maintaining cleanliness and communicate respectfully with staff. They should adhere to luggage storage rules, too.

While this is about ST buses, we hope every public transport initiative witnesses a transformantion, so that bridges of trust are built between passengers and the service. Safety, of course, tops the list when it comes to commuting, and there is cleanliness; prompt passenger alerts that are vital, too. As the holiday season approaches, let us see services that put ‘commuter is king' at its heart.