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Bus For Us Foundation, an NGO set up by MSRTC Bus fans have given a new meaning to bus fanning.

The group has adopted two premium class MSRTC buses on the Mumbai-Kolhapur route for two month. 

The services have started from yesterday, January 26, 2021.

The NGO will oversee all operations of the two buses – right from booking to maintenance and by the end of the the tenure they will compile a (Standard Operational Procedure) that will be handed over to MSRTC. 

According to Rohit Dhende, President, Bus For Us Foundation, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) lacked a solid framework to operate buses from the premium segment. 

“While luxury services, air conditioned seater and sleeper MSRTC buses, were continuously introduced to the fleet, the Corporation lacked a proper framework to operate these buses. As a result, it failed to be a profitable venture and the buses suffered inadequate maintenance,” Dhende told Coach Builders India. 

This created a slew of problems and passengers had to face extreme inconvenience – right from reservation glitches, mid-journey vehicle breakdowns to buses not reaching their destination on time. 

The NGO intended to offer a working solution to this problem and the MSRTC promptly agreed. 

The Corporation allowed it to adopt two buses on the Mumbai Central – Kolhapur Route. 

What Will Bus For US Foundation Offer

Dhende and his team will offer the following:

1. Hassle free online and offline booking
2. Help desk for customers
3. Live tracking of buses
4. Ensure minimum stoppage on long routes

Moreover, BusForUS volunteers will travel with the buses to map consumer feedback as well as offer offer on-spot resolution to issues faced. 

“Based on the feedback that we receive in these two months, we will prepare a SOP and hand it over to MSRTC. The corporation can incorporate these SOPs to facilitate smoother operations of MSRTC premium bus services,” Dhende adds.