Following the rape of a woman inside a parked state transport bus at the Swargate ST depot in Pune, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has ordered a security audit of all Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus stations and depots. He announced that CCTV cameras, GPS systems, and panic buttons would be made mandatory in approximately 15,000 MSRTC buses, including those leased from private contractors.
Sarnaik also stated that all unused buses and vehicles parked inside MSRTC depots across the state would be disposed of before April 15 this year. Speaking at a press conference at Mantralaya, after reviewing security measures at MSRTC bus depots in light of the Swargate incident, Sarnaik emphasized the need for a security audit of all depots and stations. MSRTC operates around 580 bus stands and 251 bus stations across Maharashtra. “A thorough audit will be conducted, and any deficiencies identified will be addressed,” he said.
Currently, MSRTC has approximately 2,700 security guards hired through various security boards. The minister stated that the possibility of increasing their numbers is being examined, along with a proposed 15-20% rise in the number of female security guards.
Sarnaik also reassured female passengers that they should continue using MSRTC buses without fear. “I want to assure them that the government stands with them,” he said. Following the rape, security guards at Swargate bus station have been replaced.
The minister assured that strict action would be taken against the bus driver, controller, or depot manager if they were found guilty of negligence. When asked about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for security upgrades, Sarnaik confirmed that AI is widely used and that his department plans to integrate it into MSRTC’s security system. A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside an MSRTC bus at Swargate bus station on Tuesday.
The accused, 37-year-old history-sheeter Dattatray Ramdas Gade, is yet to be arrested. According to police records, Gade has multiple cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching registered against him in Pune and Ahilyanagar district. He has been out on bail since 2019 in one of these cases. Police identified him through CCTV footage from the depot and have handed over the evidence for further investigation.
