Overview
- Responding to complaints during Thursday inspections, Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik fixed the price of one-litre ‘Nathjal’ bottles at ₹15, ordered price boards at stalls, and warned that overcharging will bring licence cancellation.
- He directed MSRTC to ensure scheduled buses halt at Lonavala Bus Stand rather than stopping at private hotels where food costs more for travelers.
- At the Pimpri-Chinchwad (Vallabh Nagar) depot, Sarnaik gave officials one month to clean filthy toilets, restore broken CCTV, and provide safe drinking and hot water, with funds to follow formal proposals and a return check next month.
- He ordered immediate steps at the depot that include supplying hot water for crews, repairing cameras, installing CSR-donated coolers, posting a police officer at the outpost, and preventing bus parking on the road outside.
- He proposed giving closed station stalls to women’s self-help groups at low rent and announced subsidised tea and snacks at ₹40 in MSRTC canteens from June 1 to ease costs for passengers.