MP CM Mohan Yadav launches 351-bus service, jabs Congress over saffron colour
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh has revived its state bus service after 21 years, with CM Mohan Yadav launching 351 saffron-coloured buses across seven cities on 25 September. The rollout quickly turned political, with Yadav taunting the Congress over the buses’ colour and Congress state chief Jitu Patwari firing back on X — setting the tone for a revival that is as much about electoral optics as public transport.
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launched the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva in Bhopal on 25 September 2025 .
351 buses rolled out in the first phase across seven cities — 120 on inter-city routes, 231 within cities.
Fleet expansion to 1,500 buses is planned for the near term.
The MP State Road Transport Corporation had suspended operations in 2005 , creating a 21-year gap in public bus services.
Congress state president Jitu Patwari criticised the launch on X, accusing Yadav of focusing on optics over governance.
Yadav claimed more than five lakh km of roads had been built under the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday, 25 September launched the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva in Bhopal, reviving organised public bus transport in the state after a gap of more than two decades. The launch was accompanied by a pointed political dig at the Congress over the buses' saffron livery, with Yadav saying the sight of the new fleet on state roads would be like “a snake crawling on the Congress’ chest.”
What Was Launched
The first phase rolled out 351 buses across seven cities, with 120 operating on inter-city routes and 231 deployed within city limits. The government has indicated plans to expand the fleet to 1,500 buses in the near term, with further expansion envisaged thereafter. Yadav described the initiative as a fulfilment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s 2023 election manifesto commitment to restore public transport services.
Why the Gap Was So Long
The Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation suspended operations in 2005 owing to severe financial and operational difficulties, ceding the ground entirely to private operators. The two-decade absence left a significant gap in affordable, organised connectivity across the state’s cities and towns. Yadav alleged that the Congress, during its tenure in government, had “hatched a conspiracy” to wind down the corporation “in a planned manner by resorting to road blockades.”
The Political Sparring
The saffron colour of the new buses quickly became a political flashpoint. Yadav questioned why the opposition had concerns about the colour, framing their discomfort as ideological. Congress state president Jitu Patwari responded sharply, accusing Yadav of prioritising rebranding over governance. “Our Mohan Babu, when he is unable to get anything done, launches a campaign to change names. Now, who will explain to him that it is not the ‘name’ that needs to be changed, but the ‘work’?” Patwari wrote on X. Yadav also accused the Congress of failing to deliver adequate roads, electricity, and water infrastructure during its time in power.
Broader Infrastructure Claims
Alongside the bus launch, Yadav cited the BJP government’s road-building record, claiming more than five lakh km of roads had been constructed in Madhya Pradesh. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari with significantly expanding the national highway network in the state. The new bus service, he added, is designed to connect cities, towns, and different parts of Madhya Pradesh, with the operational scope potentially extending beyond state borders where required.
What Comes Next
With the first phase now operational, the government’s stated target of a 1,500-bus fleet will be the benchmark by which the revival is assessed. The restoration of public transport after 21 years is expected to reduce dependence on unregulated private operators and improve connectivity for daily commuters across the state. Whether execution keeps pace with the announcement will be watched closely, particularly given the corporation’s chequered financial history.
Point of View
But the launch’s political framing risks obscuring the harder questions. The corporation collapsed in 2005 under its own financial weight — scaling to 1,500 buses will require a funding and governance model that does not repeat those errors. Yadav’s saffron-colour taunt and Patwari’s name-versus-work riposte are both diversions from that accountability test. The real scorecard will be ridership numbers, fare affordability, and whether the fleet actually reaches 1,500 — not who blinks first in a colour debate.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva launched in Madhya Pradesh?
It is a revived public bus transport scheme launched by CM Mohan Yadav on 25 September in Bhopal, marking the return of state-run bus services after 21 years. The first phase covers 351 buses across seven cities, with plans to scale to 1,500 buses.
Why had Madhya Pradesh not had a state bus service since 2005?
The Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation shut down operations in 2005 due to severe financial and operational difficulties, leaving private operators to fill the gap. The new initiative seeks to restore organised public transport after that 21-year absence.
Why is the saffron colour of the buses controversial?
The opposition Congress has raised objections to the saffron livery, which is also the colour associated with the BJP and Hindutva politics. CM Yadav responded with a sharp political jibe, saying the sight of the buses would displease the Congress.
What did Congress state president Jitu Patwari say about the launch?
Patwari criticised CM Yadav on X, accusing him of focusing on name changes and optics rather than substantive governance. He wrote that it is not the ‘name’ but the ‘work’ that needs to change.
How many buses will Madhya Pradesh eventually have under this scheme?
The government plans to expand the fleet to 1,500 buses in the near term, with further expansion envisaged beyond that. The first phase has begun with 351 buses operating across seven cities.
