India, Sept. 3 -- The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has been directed to prioritise conductorless bus services on suitable routes to reduce manpower costs and improve financial efficiency.

The directive was issued during a review meeting on measures to increase revenue and strengthen the corporation's financial position. Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday said fare hikes alone could not ensure financial sustainability and stressed the need to increase revenue while cutting unnecessary expenditure.

He directed officials to identify routes where conductorless services could be operated without compromising passenger convenience. Digital ticketing, QR codes and smart cards should also be used to reduce de...