Pune: New Rs 2 Charge on MSRTC Tickets to Fund Cleanliness Push

Pune, May 4, 2026: In a bid to enhance cleanliness at bus depots and inside state-run buses, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has introduced a Rs 2 sanitation fee on every ticket from April 15. The additional charge will be collected across the state’s bus network and will be utilised to appoint a dedicated agency for maintaining hygiene standards through a formal tender process.

Officials stated that senior citizens above 75 years, though exempt from paying ticket fares, will still have to pay the charge as it is levied separately. However, students have been exempted from the surcharge.

A private contractor will be assigned sanitation duties through a tender system. “Bus stands will be cleaned at intervals of four hours, and buses will be cleaned before departure. The revenue generated from this surcharge will be used exclusively for sanitation purposes,” an MSRTC official said. Earlier, maintenance of facilities such as toilets was handled by different agencies, including the Valmiki community and Sulabh International, but the new system aims to standardise cleanliness operations.

MSRTC operates around 350 bus stations across Maharashtra, including 48 in the Pune division.