Here’s Why Diwali Travel Gets Costly In Pune And Pimpri-chinchwad As Private Bus Operators Exploit Festival Rush With Three Times Price Hike Vs The Normal Fare

Published on October 15, 2025

As nan show of Diwali approaches, nan costs of walking successful Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad emergence considerably arsenic backstage autobus companies utilization nan vacation recreation market. Many people, pinch authorities buses, and trains afloat booked, are compelled to usage backstage autobus lines for which nan costs of walking to nan metropolis is accrued to 300%. Private autobus lines, pinch afloat booked authorities services, return advantage of nan business successful an exploitative manner. Even though fare regulations authorities 1.5 nan accustomed fare, astir of nan clip nan value summation is good supra what is logical considering nan demand.

With Diwali conscionable astir nan corner, travelers from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad heading to their autochthonal towns for nan show person recovered themselves facing an unexpected hurdle: skyrocketing autobus fares. As nan vacation play causes a surge successful recreation demand, galore passengers are now turning to backstage autobus operators aft nan readiness of seats connected state-run buses and trains has already been exhausted.

In a bid to meet nan overwhelming demand, backstage autobus operators person dramatically accrued their fares, taking advantage of nan festive rush. Some operators person been recovered to complaint up to 3 times nan regular fare, putting important financial strain connected travelers who are already dealing pinch nan precocious costs associated pinch Diwali travel.

The Demand Surge and Government Response

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has been speedy to respond to nan increasing request by deploying further buses to accommodate much passengers. However, contempt these efforts, each beforehand bookings for MSRTC buses and train services person been afloat booked, leaving passengers pinch nary prime but to activity alternatives successful nan shape of backstage buses.

Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are location to a important number of residents from regions specified arsenic Konkan, Marathwada, Khandesh, and Vidarbha. Many of these individuals person settled successful nan metropolis for activity aliases education, and arsenic Diwali approaches, they caput backmost to their hometowns to observe nan show pinch their families. This migration spike during Diwali increases recreation demand, putting further unit connected disposable carrier services.

Private buses typically run successful areas specified arsenic Nigdi, Bhosari, Sangvi, Pimple Gurav, Nashik Phata, Moshi, Chikhali, and Dange Chowk, providing a important nexus for those looking to travel. However, pinch nan government-run buses and trains afloat booked, backstage autobus operators are now successful a position of monopoly, exploiting nan business by raising their fares drastically.

Price Hikes: An Unregulated Trend

According to regulations, backstage autobus operators are permitted to complaint a fare that is 1.5 times nan normal complaint of MSRTC buses. Yet, galore backstage operators person disregarded these guidelines, opting to raise fares up to 2 aliases moreover 3 times nan modular price. This surge successful fares has led to a sizeable financial load connected travelers, galore of whom trust connected affordable proscription options to scope their hometowns.

For example, a travel from Amravati that would typically costs Rs 1,100 connected an MSRTC autobus is now priced betwixt Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,300 pinch a backstage operator. Similarly, recreation from Akola, which would usually costs astir Rs 850, has surged to betwixt Rs 1,900 and Rs 2,000 connected backstage buses. These inflated prices are being charged connected respective celebrated routes, including Nagpur, Latur, Solapur, Jalgaon, and Buldhana.

A Comparison of Fare Increases

To amended understand nan effect of nan value hike, present is simply a comparison betwixt MSRTC autobus fares and backstage autobus fares for various routes:

• Amravati:
  • MSRTC: Rs 1,100
  • Private: Rs 2,200–2,300
• Akola:
  • MSRTC: Rs 850
  • Private: Rs 1,900–2,000
• Latur:
  • MSRTC: Rs 580
  • Private: Rs 1,500–3,000
• Nagpur:
  • MSRTC: Rs 1,272
  • Private: Rs 2,800–3,000
• Solapur:
  • MSRTC: Rs 458
  • Private: Rs 1,000–1,200
• Buldhana:
  • MSRTC: Rs 670
  • Private: Rs 1,600–1,700

The stark opposition betwixt nan regular MSRTC fares and nan inflated prices charged by backstage operators highlights nan important financial strain placed connected passengers, peculiarly those walking connected a fund aliases pinch ample families.

Measures Taken by Authorities

The rising fares person caught nan attraction of nan Regional Transport Office (RTO), which has scheduled a gathering to reside nan issue. Authorities person made it clear that strict action will beryllium taken against backstage operators recovered charging much than nan regulated fare. As per a 2018 authorities government ruling, backstage autobus operators tin complaint up to 1.5 times nan MSRTC fare, but operators who transcend this limit look penalties and enforcement actions.

Despite nan regulations, nan deficiency of contiguous enforcement has near passengers susceptible to value exploitation. Many travelers are near pinch nary action but to salary nan inflated fares successful bid to scope their destinations successful clip for Diwali, while others are near stranded owed to nan scarcity of disposable seats.

While nan authorities government’s determination to deploy further buses and trains is simply a measurement successful nan correct direction, nan persistent rumor of backstage autobus operators exploiting high-demand periods remains a interest for travelers. As nan vacation play continues, it’s important for authorities to measurement up enforcement of fare regulations to guarantee that passengers are not financially exploited. The surge successful recreation demand, while expected during awesome festivals, should not travel astatine nan costs of passengers’ hard-earned money.

With nan attack of Diwali, location is an upsurge successful recreation rates successful nan Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas and location is an summation successful nan exploitation of nan show unreserved by backstage autobus operators. This is seen successful nan summation of nan complaint connected nan scarce backstage buses which is going 3 times nan normal and is noticeable pinch nan authorities buses and trains getting afloat booked.

During Diwali, for nan autobus passengers, location is nan precocious anticipation that show autobus complaint increases will soon stop. This is sadly inevitable, leaving passengers pinch nary recourse but to judge nan exorbitant and unregulated increases successful prices.