Passengers Face Harsh Reality of Private Bus Fare Hike During Diwali
Private tourist bus operators in Maharashtra are charging exorbitant fares during the Diwali rush, leaving passengers fuming. Fares have reportedly risen from ₹700 to ₹4,000 on some routes, with some tickets costing as much as ₹7,000. Passengers have taken to social media to express their outrage against Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and his department for allegedly failing to regulate fares.
"Are there no regulations whatsoever on private bus ticket prices? Fares have reached ₹6,000-7,000, almost the same as flight tickets. What are people who book at the last minute supposed to do? Celebrate Diwali in their paying guest accommodation?" an X user said.
Another X user questioned whether the minister was "asleep or pretending to be"."People work hard throughout the year in cities like Mumbai and Pune and hope to spend a few happy moments with their families during Diwali. How can ticket prices jump from ₹700 to ₹4,000?" the user posted sharing screenshots of some booking apps.
Response from RTO Pune
Amid the complaints, the Pune Regional Transport Office launched a special inspection drive on November 1 against private contract buses to curb excessive fares. The drive will continue until November 20, 2026. RTO officers said that private buses cannot charge more than 1.5 times the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation fare for the corresponding category of buses.
Operators are also required to display fare charts inside their vehicles. Action will be taken against operators found charging excess fares, they said. Inspection teams will also check permits, whether buses are carrying passengers beyond authorised capacity and whether they have the mandatory safety equipment.
Passengers can lodge complaints about excess fares through the RTO’s helpline 1800-22-0110 by sharing the bus details and photographs of their tickets, officials said.
Transport commissioner Rajesh Narvekar could not be reached for comment on the issue.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The special inspection drive by RTO Pune is a welcome move, but passengers are still awaiting a long-term solution to this issue. The Maharashtra government needs to take concrete steps to regulate private bus fares and ensure that passengers are not exploited during peak seasons.