Private bus fares up two to three times before Diwali; Pune RTO begins inspection drive

Complaints from passengers about the fares of private tourist buses have risen as Diwali nears. Passengers allege that bus operators are charging two to three times the usual rates. On some routes, a ticket is said to have reached Rs 7,000.

Many passengers targeted Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and his department on social media. They say the department has failed to rein in fares during the festival season. One social media user claimed that the fare on one route had risen from Rs 700 to Rs 4,000.

A user on X wrote: "Is there no rule on private bus ticket prices? The fare has reached Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000, almost as much as an air ticket. What should those who book at the last minute do? Celebrate Diwali in their paying guest rooms?" Another X user asked whether the minister was "asleep or pretending to be asleep".

Sharing screenshots from some booking apps, one user wrote that people in cities such as Mumbai and Pune work hard all year and hope to spend some happy moments with their families on Diwali. The user asked how a ticket price could go from Rs 700 to Rs 4,000.

Amid these complaints, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Pune began a special inspection drive against private contract buses on November 1. Its aim is to stop overcharging. The drive will run until November 20, 2026.

According to RTO officials, private buses cannot charge more than one and a half times the fare of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses of the same category. Operators must also display a fare list inside their vehicles. Officials said action would be taken against operators found charging more.

The inspection teams will also check permits. They will also examine whether buses are carrying more passengers than their permitted capacity and whether the required safety equipment is fitted.

Officials said passengers can complain about overcharging on the RTO helpline, 1800-22-0110. They will need to provide details of the bus and photographs of the ticket when complaining. Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar could not be reached for comment on the matter.