Transport minister rejects proposed 15% Diwali fare hike on MSRTC buses

Passengers travelling on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses from Nagpur during Diwali have good news. The proposed 15 per cent seasonal fare increase for the festival rush will not be implemented. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik rejected the proposal on Thursday and made it clear that no additional financial burden would be placed on travellers during the festival season.

The MSRTC administration had proposed raising fares by 15 per cent from November 1 to November 15, 2026. It said the number of passengers rises suddenly during Diwali and the increase should therefore be made. Sarnaik did not accept the demand. He said people already struggling with drought, inflation and rising expenses should not be charged more for an essential transport service.

The decision is expected to bring considerable relief to thousands of passengers. Large numbers of people travel from Nagpur to their villages or homes at Diwali to celebrate the festival with their families. Demand for travel always rises in this season. With current fares staying in place, holiday travellers will save the additional expense.

MSRTC's red buses, affectionately called "Lalpari", remain a vital support for rural Maharashtra. Farmers, farm labourers, school and college students, working people and the elderly depend heavily on these services to travel between villages, towns and cities. A seasonal fare rise would have increased their costs at a time when household budgets are already under pressure.

Sarnaik said the corporation's financial problems should be solved by other means, not by burdening passengers. He also stressed that bus services must remain safe, reliable and affordable, especially for people in remote villages who have very few other means of travel.

The decision comes as Diwali travel is about to begin and thousands of people return from big cities to their families. For Nagpur passengers, it means they can plan their festival journeys without the proposed seasonal increase in MSRTC fares.