MSRTC offers cool ride to CM’s hometown ‘Karad’

From next week, Karad, a sleepy town in Satara, western Maharashtra, will have an air-conditioned bus service to Mumbai.

From next week, Karad, a sleepy town in Satara, western Maharashtra, will have an air-conditioned bus service to Mumbai.

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The state government-owned Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has started a daily Air-Conditioned bus service between Mumbai and Karad.

So, is Karad becoming a major city in western Maharashtra?

Unlikely. The reason for the latest service by MSRTC: Karad happens to be hometown of Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

The bus service will be inaugurated on May 12 at 11pm from Karad to Mumbai and on May 13 at 11.15 am, it will leave from Mumbai Central to Karad. Criticising the move, the social activist claimed this move by the state government company is to only please the CM, as this route is not otherwise profitable.

“If MSRTC wants to start air-conditioned services, they can start it for Nashik, Shirdi, Nanded. There is no reason for it to organise a service for Karad.

The services should have commenced from the big cities first. This move is not justified and is simply to please the CM,” said Ravi Srivastava, IAC

On the other hand, Mukund Dhus MSRTC spokesperson said, “We are already running AC services between Pune – Aurangabad, Mumbai – Bangalore and will also start to other cities like Mumbai-Ratnagiri, Mumbai-Nashik, Nagpur-Amravati as soon as the buses are available.”

Dhus added, “The buses are simply started on the demand by the passengers and will also facilitate the Satara and Umbraj passengers. Though the CM hails from Karad, the service is purely demand driven.”

The ticket for the above bus service is Rs469 and can be booked online on www.msrtc.gov.in.