Indore/Bhopal, September 11, 2026

Madhya Pradesh will launch the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Bus Service on September 25. The initiative will mark the return of a state-backed passenger transport network after nearly two decades.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced the launch date at the two-day Passenger Transport Vision Summit 2026. The event began at Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore on Friday. The new service will connect cities, towns and rural areas. It will cover city, intercity and interstate routes under the vision of “One State, One Bus Service.” Passenger safety and digital monitoring will remain central to the system. Buses will have GPS, CCTV cameras, panic buttons, live-location tracking and driver-monitoring systems. Electric and CNG buses will receive priority.

Dr Yadav said the service would benefit passengers and bus operators. It would also create employment opportunities and open new avenues for transport startups and technology companies. “The state transport bus service remained closed for decades. It has now received a new lease of life,” he said. The Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation stopped operating its services in 2005. Private operators have largely managed passenger bus transport in the state since then.

Dr Yadav said the government had prepared the new system after considering the interests of passengers, operators and other stakeholders. The service would use modern technology to make travel safer and more convenient. Madhya Pradesh already has more than 15,000 buses and an extensive road network, he said. The new system would bring route planning, passenger information and monitoring under a coordinated structure.

The Chief Minister said better public transport had become necessary with the rise in tourism and movement between cities. More than 20 crore tourists were now visiting Madhya Pradesh every year, according to the state Tourism Department. Ujjain had also recorded a sharp increase in the number of devotees. This required stronger transport links between religious destinations, railway stations, airports and surrounding districts, he said.

Dr Yadav said the service would help people from rural areas reach hospitals, educational institutions, markets and workplaces. It would also improve connectivity between the state’s major cities and smaller towns. He referred to the expansion of highways, railways, logistics corridors and industrial corridors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Madhya Pradesh was also improving its road, Metro and aviation infrastructure to meet future requirements. Metro services had begun in Bhopal and Indore, while the state’s airports had undergone major improvements, he added.

Dr Yadav linked the bus launch with the Seva Sankalp campaign. The campaign will begin on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17 and continue until October 17. An agreement was signed between Madhya Pradesh Yatri Parivahan Evam Infrastructure Limited, or MPYPIL, and Rapido at the summit. It aims to provide last-mile connectivity between neighbourhoods and Sugam bus points.

The Chief Minister unveiled the MPYPIL logo and released a summit souvenir and a special booklet. He also honoured the winners of the bus service logo competition. Sudhakar Kumar of Bihar received the first prize of Rs 5 lakh. Chayan Vohra of New Delhi won the second prize of Rs 2 lakh. Gaurangi Sharma of Mumbai received the third prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Transport and School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh said the service would bring an important change in passenger transport. Electric buses would also operate on routes serving rural areas. He said discussions at the summit would help the Transport Department prepare a practical roadmap. The state Cabinet had approved the Sugam passenger bus service plan on April 1 last year. The government was now preparing to begin operations during the Seva Sankalp campaign.

Transport Secretary and Public Relations Commissioner Manish Singh gave a detailed presentation on the proposed system. He said the bus network would operate through MPYPIL. Seven regional subsidiary companies have been formed to manage services in different parts of the state. Transport advisory committees have also been constituted in the districts under the chairmanship of collectors. Public representatives will be part of these committees and help monitor routes and services.

Manish Singh said route surveys had been completed in all 55 districts. The department surveyed 150 city routes, 450 intercity routes and 436 interstate routes after studying passenger demand. The government has also approved 1,190 specialised posts for the new system. Recruitment is being undertaken through MP Online and Tata Consultancy Services.

Bus manufacturers, private operators, startups, artificial intelligence specialists and transport experts attended the summit. Eight priority areas approved by the state Cabinet were taken up for discussion. Industry representatives also announced investment plans.

EKA Mobility chairman Sudhir Mehta said the company would establish its fifth electric bus factory at Pithampur. He claimed it would be the country’s largest electric bus factory, with a capacity to manufacture 5,000 buses annually. The plant is expected to be completed within 14 months. EKA Mobility already operates four manufacturing units in Madhya Pradesh.

Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said a clean and safe bus system would improve connectivity between villages and cities. He said the proposed model could prevent more than 70,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

The September 25 launch will open a new chapter in Madhya Pradesh’s passenger transport system. The planned network will bring villages, towns and cities closer while making everyday bus travel safer, better organised and more accessible.