MSRTC Fare Hike Sparks Anger Ahead of Ganesh Festival

Thousands of Ganesh devotees travelling to Konkan for the upcoming Ganesh Festival are set to face higher travel expenses after the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) implemented a permanent 13.56% increase in passenger fares. The decision has triggered strong resentment, particularly among families and groups relying on MSRTC’s group reservation facility due to long railway waiting lists.

MSRTC said the fare revision was unavoidable because of rising diesel prices, increasing maintenance expenses, higher costs of spare parts, tyres, and overall operational expenditure. According to the corporation, financial losses continued to mount during April, May and June, with June alone recording a loss of ₹91.18 crore, nearly 60% higher than the corresponding period last year.

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Earlier, passengers were paying an additional 10% seasonal surcharge, which had been extended until July 31. However, the transport corporation has now withdrawn the temporary surcharge and replaced it with a permanent 13.56% fare hike, significantly increasing travel costs for regular commuters and festive travellers alike.

Every year, lakhs of devotees from Mumbai, Thane, Pune and other cities travel to Konkan for Ganeshotsav. Due to heavy railway waiting lists and limited train availability, many families, Ganesh mandals and organisations opt for MSRTC’s group reservation service. With the revised fares now in effect, the overall cost of group bookings has increased substantially, adding an unexpected financial burden ahead of the festival season.

The Konkan Passengers Association criticised the decision, pointing out that while private bus operators continue to run large numbers of services between Mumbai and Goa, MSRTC operates only a limited number of buses to destinations such as Panaji and Sindhudurg. The association argued that inadequate bus services are already forcing passengers towards private operators.

Reacting to the fare hike, Konkan Passengers Association Working President Deepak Chavan alleged that fare revisions are repeatedly imposed during peak travel seasons such as Ashadhi Wari, Ganesh Festival, Diwali, Holi and the summer holidays, placing unnecessary financial pressure on ordinary passengers.

He also demanded that MSRTC disclose the actual financial benefits generated through the fare hike and justify why such a decision was taken just before one of Maharashtra’s biggest festivals.

While MSRTC maintains that the fare increase is essential to manage rising operational costs, the move has intensified public anger, with growing demands for the government to either withdraw the hike during the festive season or announce a special concession for Ganesh devotees.

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