Passenger bus, running under recently launched M.P. govt service, gutted in fire; passengers evacuated safely

On October 6, 2023, a passenger bus operated under Madhya Pradesh's newly launched public bus service, Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva, caught fire near Ujjain, approximately 15 kilometers away. The bus, which was traveling from the holy city of Ujjain to Indore, was carrying around 40 passengers at the time of the incident. Remarkably, all passengers managed to evacuate the bus safely without any injuries.

The bus was part of a contract between private operator and the government's recently established State-owned company, Madhya Pradesh Passenger Transport and Infrastructure Limited. The incident occurred in the Ramwas area when the bus was en route to Indore. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had inaugurated 351 buses, reestablishing a public bus service in the state after a gap of 21 years under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Madhya Pradesh Transport Secretary Manish Singh confirmed that an inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the fire, denying allegations that it was caused by a tyre burst. He also clarified that the buses were not being rebranded as new but were being operated under a PPP model. Singh stated that the buses being used were already in service with private companies and had passed fitness tests, with only a few newly purchased by some private operators.