MSRTC announces Rs 10,000 Diwali bonus for 83,000 employees
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik also announced an increase in dearness allowance to 60 per cent for the state-run undertaking.
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees will receive a Diwali bonus of Rs 10,000 each, according to the Hindustan Times. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the decision on Thursday during a meeting with various employee unions at the Transport Commissioner's office in Bandra.
The announcement includes an increase in dearness allowance (DA) from 58 per cent to 60 per cent. Eligible employees will also receive a festival advance of Rs 12,500, Sarnaik said.
The decisions regarding the bonus and DA will place an additional burden of approximately Rs 160 crore on the corporation. MSRTC, which is the largest state-run public transport undertaking in the country, operates a fleet of nearly 15,000 buses and ferries and serves around 55 lakh passengers daily.
Sarnaik said that despite the corporation facing financial difficulties, the government was committed to ensuring employees celebrate Diwali. He stated that providing the bonus is a right because officers and employees work round the clock to provide safe travel.
The minister appealed to employees not to resort to strikes or protests, noting that any agitation could inconvenience passengers. He added that the government and the corporation are committed to resolving issues through dialogue while strengthening the financial position of the MSRTC.