An attractive scheme initiated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for frequent Shivneri commuters between the city and Mumbai has been discontinued since March 1, after officials observed a lukewarm response from travellers
An attractive scheme initiated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for frequent Shivneri commuters between the city and Mumbai has been discontinued since March 1, after officials observed a lukewarm response from travellers.
What scheme? Passengers say not many were even aware of the
MSRTC scheme. representation pic
The scheme gave a 50 per cent discount on the ticket price on the sixth trip on the same route. The condition was that the six trips had to be made within two months. Travellers who wished to avail of the scheme were given a booklet in which each new trip was recorded. Passengers had to get an identity card made after producing necessary documents for age and address proof. People booking their tickets online were also eligible for it.
MSRTC officials said the scheme, which was introduced on September 1 last year, received low response and they had to discontinue it. Divisional Traffic Controller A S Jadhav said travellers who use the air-conditioned Volvo buses belong to a particular class that prefers the higher-priced Shivneri service for its comfort and reliability. "A concession for them was no big deal despite it being very lucrative, and so we decided to scrap the scheme," said Jadhav.
On whether the corporation would revive the scheme in the near future if commuters want it back, Jadhav said the MSRTC would "positively think about it after assessing the overall ridership and the total demand".
Several commuters said the scheme should have been advertised well by the MSRTC, claiming many passengers simply did not know about it.
Varun Kulkarni (26), a marketing executive who is from Mumbai but works in the city, said the few travellers who were aware of the scheme had got it mostly by word of mouth. "I learnt about it after I spotted an MSRTC identity card with a fellow passenger and enquired about it," he said. "They should have advertised it for it to spread to all regular Shivneri passenger."
Chinmay Herwadkar (25), an IT professional from Mumbai, said one of the drawbacks of the scheme for the regular traveler who books his tickets online was that he had to book the sixth ticket in person at the bus depot booking counter to avail of the discount. "The online software has to be modified to keep records of the number of trips made by the I-card-holder who books his tickets online. Going to the counter during peak hours just to avail of the concession is tiresome," said Herwadkar.
New routes
Nwe routes from the city to Surat in Gujarat and to Panaji in Goa have been proposed by the MSRTC divisional office here. The proposal has been formally forwarded to the head office in Mumbai and is awaiting approval. Divisional Traffic Controller A S Jadhav said the number of passengers travelling to these two cities had increased. New buses will have to be either purchased or leased to begin the services.
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