Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court last week directed the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to continue allowing interstate bus operators from Madhya Pradesh to park vehicles at state-run bus stations, offering relief to transporters amid pending revisions to a bilateral agreement.A division bench comprising Justices Anil Pansare and Nivedita Mehta ruled that the existing interim arrangement — first granted in 2016 — will remain in force until the current Reciprocal Transport Agreement dated March 1, 2007, is either amended or replaced. The court stated that “the interim arrangement shall continue to operate” until a revised framework comes into effect.The petitions were filed by eight bus operators from Chhindwara district, including Yusuf Khan and others, all holding valid interstate permits under Section 88(5) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. They argued that despite the agreement granting operational and facility access in Maharashtra, MSRTC denied them parking at bus depots, disrupting services and passenger convenience.The court noted that its earlier order dated May 2, 2016, already directed MSRTC to permit such parking “in obedience to obligation cast upon them” under the agreement. Since then, the arrangement has continued without interruption.MSRTC submitted that amendments to specific clauses of the agreement have been proposed. Until these changes are formalised under statutory provisions, the corporation suggested maintaining status quo. The petitioners concurred, seeking continuation of the interim relief until a new or modified agreement is implemented.Disposing of the petitions, the court clarified that future operations will be governed strictly by the terms of any revised or fresh agreement between Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
