Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation is planning to purchase 500 CNG buses, the tendering process for which is expected to start from March. While most of the buses will be used in Mumbai region, at least 15 of them will be introduced on the Pune-Mumbai route on an experimental basis, said officials.

MSRTC’s daily expenditure on diesel has increased after the government slashed subsidy on the fuel for bulk buyers. The officials, however, said there was no immediate plan to hike fares even though all depots were purchasing diesel at a higher price.