MUMBAI:

The transport department will start a fleet of luxury

caleld ‘Shivshahi’ for intra-state connectivity. These buses will have all modern amenities like

, CCTV cameras, reading lights, a 9-inch TV screen for each passenger and points for mobile and laptop chargers. These buses will

between all major cities in the

.

A prototype will be inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday on the occasion of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s birth anniversary. “The buses are being built. They will start functioning in two months. There is a huge demand for luxury buses like Shivneri,” said transport minister Diwakar Raote.

Five other schemes will also be launched on Saturday, aimed at MSRTC drivers and conductors. The government plans to cover the drivers and conductors under an insurance scheme for up to Rs 10 lakh in case of death due to an accident and up to Rs 5 lakh in case a mishap leaves them disabled. Through another scheme, the government will build a superspecialty hospital in Pune, where 25% beds will be for the MSRTC staff.

An automobile engineering institute will also be set up in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray, where skill training will be given to students from the lower income group.

The transport department is likely to announce at least 50,000 new auto permits, said a source. During the latest auto permit lottery, Raote had hinted that an announcement for new permits was likely to be made on Thackeray’s birth anniversary.