msrtc

A Shivshahi bus traveling from Pune to Vasai caught fire near Thane railway station on Thursday afternoon. Passengers were safely evacuated before the diesel-powered vehicle was engulfed in flames. The incident disrupted bus services from Thane West, causing commuter delays.

A visibly disturbed 20-year-old youth from Uttarakhand stole a PMPML bus in Pune and drove it for 1.5km through crowded streets. The incident revived memories of a similar fatal incident in 2012. Police intercepted the youth, who appeared unable to answer questions and claimed to be searching for a driver's job in Mumbai.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (msrtc) launched its RuPay On-The-Go smart card scheme on April 1, enabling convenient and transparent digital travel for students, senior citizens, and other concession holders. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the initiative, distributing cards to beneficiaries. The NCMC-enabled cards, priced at Rs 199, can be topped up through various digital channels.

An IT professional in Pune had two fingers of his left hand bitten by a cab driver after a dispute over fare. The driver allegedly refused the app-quoted price and demanded payment by meter, leading to an assault. The driver has been arrested and charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Bombay High Court has ordered the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (msrtc) to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation to the widow of an employee who died of Covid-19. The court ruled that the deceased, Bapu Jagtap, contracted the virus while performing his duty at the risk of his life, rejecting msrtc's claim that he was not assigned essential services.

Transporters across Maharashtra launched a statewide "chakka jam" on Thursday, protesting "arbitrary and excessive" e-challans and other sector issues. Talks failed, leading to an indefinite strike starting midnight. School buses, trucks, taxis, and commercial vehicles are off the roads. Demands include e-challan reforms and tax reductions.