THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Private stage carriage bus operators enrolled under Goa’s Mhaji Bus Scheme will now get a subsidy of Rs 5 per km operated while retaining the entire fare collected from passengers, under a revised scheme notified by the Transport Department.
The government has also provided a 50 percent reimbursement of the annual insurance premium, capped at Rs 40,000, and assistance of Rs 10 lakh for replacing buses older than 15 years with new buses having a minimum seating capacity of 27.
The revised scheme supersedes the earlier notification issued in May 2025, seeking to strengthen private bus services and improve the availability of affordable, safe and reliable public transport, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The notification states that operators seeking benefits should meet stringent operational conditions, with the first being buses to operate on all permitted days throughout the year. “If a bus is taken off the road for maintenance, breakdown or any other service interruption, the operator will have to arrange an alternate bus, failing which the subsidy for those days will be deducted,” it said.
While buses can be kept for repairs and maintenance for only two days a month, these must be Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, with prior intimation to the competent authority if the bus is off the road.
For the initial three years, buses up to 20 years old will be eligible under the scheme. Thereafter, only buses not older than 15 years from their date of initial registration will qualify.
Operators will also have to use Automatic Ticketing Machines, employ trained conductors in proper uniform with name badges, and install a Vehicle Location Tracking Device approved by the Directorate of Transport before induction into the scheme.
The buses will have to be repainted according to the Mhaji Bus Scheme branding pattern. Operators will also have to maintain vehicle log books recording every trip, including departure and arrival times, distance travelled, incidents and maintenance requirements, besides reporting trip details at KTCL control points at bus stands. Several other requirements are to be met to avail the scheme.
A separate Mhaji Bus Scheme section will monitor implementation, with the Assistant Director of Transport (HQ) in charge. The Directorate can issue warnings, impose fines, deduct subsidies, or suspend operators for violations.
