Madhya Pradesh to bring back state-backed bus service after 20 years with 351-bus rollout

Madhya Pradesh is set to return to a state-backed public bus transport system after a gap of nearly two decades, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari scheduled to launch the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva in Bhopal on September 25.

The first phase will see 351 buses rolled out from seven cities, including 120 intercity buses and the remainder for urban services. The launch will take place at the BHEL Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal, marking the state government’s return to organised passenger bus services after the erstwhile Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation ceased operations around two decades ago.

Public-private model

Unlike the earlier transport corporation model, the new system has been structured as a public-private partnership, with private operators running buses within a framework overseen by the state.

The government plans to expand the network rapidly after the initial rollout. Its longer-term target is a fleet of 15,000 buses over the next five years, with around 2,500 to 3,000 buses proposed to be added annually.

The service is expected to cover both intercity and intracity routes. Intercity buses will connect two or more cities, while the urban services are intended to strengthen public transport within cities.

The larger plan is also aimed at extending organised bus connectivity to underserved areas, particularly smaller towns and rural regions where passengers have long depended heavily on private operators.

GPS, panic buttons for safety

Technology and passenger safety will form a key part of the new system. Buses will be equipped with GPS devices, allowing their movement and location to be tracked in real time, as well as panic buttons for use during emergencies.

Transport Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh said GPS would enable live tracking of buses while panic buttons would provide an additional safety mechanism for passengers. The state is also focusing on driver training as it prepares to expand the fleet, particularly with electric and CNG buses expected to form part of the network. Institutes of Driving Training and Research have already been established in Indore and Chhindwara. Five regional training centres are being developed in Bhopal, Betul, Chhatarpur, Ujjain and Gwalior, while another 22 district-level centres are planned.

Drivers will be trained in modern vehicle technology, road safety protocols and the operation of electric and CNG buses.

Return after two decades

The launch represents a significant change in Madhya Pradesh’s passenger transport policy. After the winding down of the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, bus services across much of the state came to be dominated by private operators.

The new model does not recreate the old transport corporation in its previous form. Instead, the government will seek to combine private operation with a state-designed network, technology-based monitoring and common service standards.

The initial 351-bus rollout will serve as the first test of that model before the network is expanded across Madhya Pradesh. The government has said the larger objective is to provide passengers with more reliable and accessible public transport while improving connectivity between cities and within urban areas. With a 15,000-bus target over five years, the September 25 launch is intended to be the starting point for a much wider transport network rather than a one-time addition of buses.