PANAJI: The Directorate of Transport has announced that the revamped Mhaji Bus Scheme will come into effect on August 1, and has called on private stage carriage bus operators to register before the scheme is implemented.
Director of Transport Arvind Khutkar, in a public notice, said interested operators must submit the prescribed application form along with the required documents to the office of their respective Assistant Director of Transport.
Details regarding eligibility criteria, the application procedure and the list of required documents are available at the offices of the Assistant Directors during working hours, as well as on the Transport Department’s official website.
The rollout follows the Goa government’s decision to extend the Mhaji Bus Scheme, 2025 until May 14, 2027, ensuring continued financial support for private bus operators across the state.
The upgraded scheme offers a range of incentives to improve the viability of private bus services and modernise Goa’s public transport system. Operators will receive a fuel subsidy of ₹3 per kilometre, while 50% of the annual insurance premium will be reimbursed to reduce operational expenses.
To encourage fleet modernisation, the government will also provide a ₹10 lakh incentive to operators replacing buses that are 15 years old or older. The initiative aims to improve passenger safety, enhance service reliability and reduce pollution through the introduction of newer vehicles.
The Mhaji Bus Scheme was introduced to strengthen Goa’s public transport network by supporting private bus operators, improving connectivity across the state and ensuring more reliable transport services, particularly in rural and remote areas.
