Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation’s (MSRTC) Pimpri-Chinchwad depot has earned a significant income from additional bus services to the Konkan region for the Ganeshotsav festival. Over the past three days, approximately ₹7 lakh has been collected from these services, with further revenue expected from return journeys.

The city of Pimpri-Chinchwad, known for its industrial base, is home to people from various parts of the country, including a large population from the Konkan region.

As Ganeshotsav is a major festival for Konkan residents, many return to their hometowns during this time. However, private transport operators often take advantage of the demand by increasing fares up to three times the normal rate, making travel difficult for passengers.

To address this issue and ensure a smooth journey for commuters, MSRTC introduced additional bus services. From the Vallabh Nagar depot, 128 buses, including 55 from the Pimpri-Chinchwad depot, were dispatched. These buses collectively covered 23,083 kilometers, generating ₹6,96,220 for the Pimpri-Chinchwad depot.

As the return journey after the festival is set to begin on Wednesday, more buses will be made available, which is expected to add to the revenue. The efficient handling of additional bus services has also ensured that people traveling back home for the festival are not inconvenienced.

Vaishali Kamble, the Depot Manager of Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, "Additional buses were provided for devotees from Pimpri-Chinchwad traveling for Ganeshotsav. Depending on demand, more buses will be dispatched to ensure that passengers do not face any inconvenience."

The extra services have proven beneficial for both commuters and MSRTC, with this year's Ganeshotsav shaping up to be a profitable season for the transport authority. The return phase is also expected to bring in additional revenue.