Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has halted the previous Eknath Shinde-led government’s decision to lease buses from the state transport corporation after the opposition alleged corruption in the scheme, sources told India Today TV.
In the previous government, the Department of Transport was headed by the then minister, Eknath Shinde. In September 2024, Siv Sena MLA Bharat Gogawale was appointed as the head of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and in December he issued letters of interest (LOIs) to three private companies under the bus leasing scheme.
Commenting on the development, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve said, “In 2022, MSRTC leased buses at Rs44 per kilometer, fuel costs included. In the new decision. Letter of intent (LoI) to three .private companies by hiring 1,310 buses, at Rs 34.70 to Rs. 35.10 per km, excluding fuel cost. If Rs 22 per km, the cost per bus will be Rs 56 to Rs 57 per km.
“We have read reports about the hiring of buses kept by the Chief Minister, but there is no confirmation,” said Danve.
Responding to the review of the decisions made by the Shinde government, Finance Minister and state BJP chief, Chandrashekar Bawankule said, “Many decisions are taken without the knowledge of the top leadership. Devendra Fadnavis will not stop any projects. But there is no harm in reviewing the projects. If there is something wrong in the decision , it will come to light. If not, the project will get the green light.”