Mumbai, 18 May (HS): On the backdrop of rising fuels prices the Maharashtra

State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has proposed to hike fare. Although

the proposal is under consideration, but the hike in fare will not be effected

immediately, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said.

Sarnaik

chaired a meeting of senior officials of MSRTC on Monday. He said MSRTC will

have to bear additional financial burden of Rs 124 crore in one year due to

hike in diesel price. The Transport Corporation requires on an average of 10.87

lakh litres of diesel every day. The Indian Oil, which supplies diesel has

hiked prices by Rs 3.10 per litre. Thus the MSRTC has to spend Rs 33.70 lakh

extra on the fuel or about Rs 10 crore per month.

In

April 2026 MSRTC suffered a loss of about 76 crore due to hike in fuel prices.

Hike in fare will be necessary in the near future to make up for the losses the

MSRTC is incurring, Sarnaik said.

The

State Government is also considering alternative ways of preventing fare hike

for passengers by increasing number of e-buses.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar