GSRTC to pay ₹28.75 crore ex-gratia to families of 115 COVID-duty deaths
Synopsis
Four years after the pandemic, Gujarat is finally paying ₹28.75 crore to the families of 115 GSRTC employees — drivers, conductors, mechanics — who died on COVID duty. The payout closes a bureaucratic gap that had left corporation staff outside the 'COVID Warrior' net meant for government employees, and it took a direct ministerial intervention to fix it.
Key Takeaways
GSRTC will distribute ₹28.75 crore in ex-gratia assistance to families of 115 employees who died on COVID-19 duty.
Each eligible family receives ₹25 lakh ; the cheque ceremony is on 27 July at Narmada Hall, Gandhinagar .
The deceased included 39 drivers , 31 conductors , 29 administrative staff , and 16 mechanics .
GSRTC ran 22,953 trips across three states during 2020–21 , transporting 6,99,357 passengers , mostly migrant workers.
Transport Minister Harsh Sanghavi intervened to classify the 115 deceased as COVID Warriors, resolving an eligibility dispute over GSRTC's corporation status.
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) will distribute ₹28.75 crore in ex-gratia assistance to the families of 115 employees who died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty during the pandemic. The cheque distribution ceremony is scheduled for 27 July at Narmada Hall, Swarnim Sankul-1 in Gandhinagar, with each eligible family set to receive ₹25 lakh.
Background: Closing the Eligibility Gap
A state resolution had previously extended ex-gratia assistance to families of government employees and officers who died performing COVID-19 duties — but GSRTC's status as a corporation, rather than a direct government department, had left its employees in a legal grey zone. The uncertainty over eligibility meant that families of deceased GSRTC staff were initially excluded from the benefit extended to those classified as 'COVID Warriors.'
Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Harsh Sanghavi intervened to resolve the ambiguity, approving the recognition of the 115 deceased GSRTC employees — including drivers and conductors — as COVID Warriors, thereby making their families eligible for the ₹25 lakh ex-gratia payout. A committee constituted by the corporation carried out detailed verification to confirm which employees were on duty at the time they contracted the infection.
Who the Deceased Were
The 115 employees who lost their lives comprised 39 drivers, 31 conductors, 29 administrative staff members, and 16 mechanics. These personnel continued to operate transport services during the pandemic despite the health risks, according to the corporation.
GSRTC's Role During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–21, GSRTC operated 22,953 trips across three states, safely transporting 6,99,357 passengers — primarily migrant workers and labourers stranded in Gujarat — to their native places. Sanghavi said the corporation 'played a crucial role in transporting migrant workers and labourers stranded in Gujarat to their native places' during the nationwide crisis.
GSRTC currently operates more than 8,000 buses, covering over 34 lakh kilometres and serving more than 27 lakh passengers across Gujarat.
Government's Statement
'This assistance is a tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of the corporation's COVID warriors,' Sanghavi said, adding that the decision was taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The government framed the payout as both a financial relief measure and a formal recognition of the sacrifices made by frontline transport workers during India's most severe public health crisis in recent memory.
What Happens Next
Cheques will be handed over to the legal heirs of the 115 eligible employees at the 27 July ceremony in Gandhinagar. The disbursement closes a chapter that had remained unresolved for families of GSRTC workers since the pandemic years, and sets a precedent for how state-run corporations — distinct from direct government departments — may be treated in future welfare resolutions.
Point of View
' ignoring the millions who work for government-owned entities under different service rules. That it took a ministerial push to extend a benefit that was morally self-evident raises questions about whether similar gaps persist for employees of other state PSUs whose workers also served on the frontlines. The GSRTC case should prompt a comprehensive audit of pandemic-era welfare exclusions, not just a one-off fix.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are GSRTC families receiving ex-gratia assistance now, years after the pandemic?
GSRTC's status as a corporation — rather than a direct government department — had initially excluded its employees from a state resolution that provided ex-gratia to government employees who died on COVID-19 duty. The eligibility gap was resolved only after Transport Minister Harsh Sanghavi intervened and approved the classification of 115 deceased GSRTC employees as COVID Warriors.
How much will each family receive, and when?
Each eligible family will receive ₹25 lakh in ex-gratia assistance. The cheque distribution ceremony is scheduled for 27 July at Narmada Hall, Swarnim Sankul-1 in Gandhinagar, with the total payout amounting to ₹28.75 crore.
Who were the 115 GSRTC employees who died on COVID duty?
The 115 deceased employees comprised 39 drivers, 31 conductors, 29 administrative staff members, and 16 mechanics. All were verified by a GSRTC-constituted committee as having been on duty when they contracted the COVID-19 infection.
What role did GSRTC play during the COVID-19 pandemic?
During 2020–21, GSRTC operated 22,953 trips across three states, transporting 6,99,357 passengers — primarily migrant workers and labourers stranded in Gujarat — to their home states. Its drivers, conductors, and mechanics maintained services throughout the pandemic despite the health risks involved.
Does this set a precedent for other state corporation employees?
The GSRTC case highlights how eligibility gaps can arise for employees of state-run corporations under existing welfare resolutions. While the Gujarat government has addressed this specific case, no broader policy revision covering other state PSU employees has been announced as yet.
