In a break from tradition, the Maharashtra government has appointed an IAS officer, rather than a public representative, as the chairman of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
According to a gazette notification issued, Transport Secretary Sanjay Sethi, an additional chief secretary-rank officer, will now head the state-run bus service. This marks a shift from the past decade, during which the position was typically held by the transport minister or another elected representative. The last chairman, Bharat Gogawale, a Shiv Sena legislator from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction, stepped down upon joining the new Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis.
Sethi’s appointment has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest. As transport secretary, he is already an ex-officio member of MSRTC, and a retired transport department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, argued that this dual role could compromise decision-making. “It’s problematic when the same person submits a proposal and approves it,” the official noted.
MSRTC, one of the country’s largest public transport operators, has been grappling with financial struggles, an ageing fleet, labour unrest, and declining passenger numbers. To curb losses, the corporation implemented a 14.95% fare increase last month.
