Madhya Pradesh relaunched its public transport bus service after a gap of 21 years, introducing the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari jointly flagged off the service at Dussehra Maidan in the Govindpura area of Bhopal.

The initiative is intended to establish direct bus connectivity between cities and villages across the state. The government said the programme was based on the philosophy of Antyodaya and aimed to provide affordable, safe and accessible transport for rural and urban residents, with particular attention to last-mile connectivity.

A total of 351 intercity and intracity buses were flagged off simultaneously across seven cities. Indore received 145 buses, comprising 50 intercity and 95 intracity services, while Bhopal received 106 buses, including 23 intercity and 83 intracity services. Jabalpur received 67 buses, Rewa 18 intercity buses, Dewas 10 intercity buses, Katni three buses and Bhind two intercity buses.

The Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation was closed in the early 2000s, leaving the state’s public transport network largely dependent on private operators. The new service is being implemented through a public-private partnership model intended to restore a regulated, technology-enabled and financially viable transport system.

The government has set a target of operating 15,000 buses by 2031, beginning with 1,500 buses in the first year and adding 2,500 to 3,000 buses annually thereafter. The buses will include GPS, panic buttons, CCTV systems and digital ticketing, while private operators will be supported through transparent contracts, incentives, modern depots and terminal facilities. They will also be permitted to increase revenue through advertising and cargo services.