MSRTC bus runs with partially-broken rooftop; video goes viral, officer suspended

A bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was on Wednesday (July 26) caught on camera running with the outer covering of its rooftop getting detached from one side and fluttering in the air, prompting the authorities to initiate a probe.

A video of the bus went viral on social media.

Shocking! Maharashtra State Road Transport Corp. (MSRTC) bus runs with a broken roof!#MumbaiRains #BaarishAaGayiHai #BarishAaGayiHai #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/x96BpuxAFF

— Voice of Mumbai (@GreaterMumbai) July 26, 2023

The bus was plying in Gadchiroli district of the state, an official said, adding that a staffer responsible for maintenance of vehicles was suspended.

When contacted, Shekhar Channe, vice chairman and managing director of the MSRTC told PTI that the bus belongs to the Aheri depot in Gadchiroli district.

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“A probe has been ordered of the incident. Action is being taken against the responsible officer,” he said.

Another MSRTC official said that an officer of the mechanical engineering department in Gadchiroli has been suspended for being responsible for poor maintenance of the bus.

“The bus was plying on the Gadchiroli-Aheri route and the entire rooftop of the bus did not come out, but only the outer fibre portion above the driver’s cabin was broken and fluttered in the air while the bus was running on the highway,” he said.

The external aluminium rooftop portion over the passengers cabin and the inner layer of the rooftop of the entire bus was intact, the official said.

“The crew of the bus and passengers were unaware about the broken rooftop. After people from some other vehicle pointed it out to the bus crew members, the latter asked them to shoot a video,” he said.

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State Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar did not respond to a query whether any action would be taken in this connection by the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

The MSRTC is one of the biggest public transport bodies in the country with more than 15,000 buses in its fleet. It ferries around 60 lakh passengers everyday.

A union leader in the MSRTC said that the condition of State Transport buses is bad due to poor maintenance, especially after the pandemic, and several passengers face troubles due to leaking buses.

(With agency inputs)