MSRTC to Run 250–300 Extra Buses for Ganesh Festival: In anticipation of heavy festive travel, MSRTC will operate additional buses from Pune to Konkan between August 22–27.
High Advance Bookings Prompt Action: With regular services fully booked two months in advance, special buses will serve key Konkan towns like Ratnagiri, Chiplun, and Sindhudurg.
Safety and Accessibility Measures in Place: Authorities will ensure 24x7 staff deployment, route repairs, and fare concessions for eligible passengers.
Pune, 21 July 2025: With Ganesh Chaturthi set to be celebrated on August 27, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will operate between 250 and 300 additional buses from its Pune division to Konkan. The move aims to accommodate the heavy festive rush of devotees returning to their hometowns.
Thousands of residents from the Konkan region, who live or work in Pune, traditionally travel home during Ganeshotsav. This year, advance bookings for regular ST buses from Swargate and Chinchwad depots were completed nearly two months ago, leaving many commuters in need of alternate options. In response, MSRTC has planned to run special bus services from August 22, five days ahead of the festival.
Last year, 251 additional buses were deployed on this route, generating over ₹59 lakh in extra revenue. The special services covered key destinations including Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Dapoli, Khed, Devrukh, Mandangad, Sindhudurg, and Lanja, with operations split between the Swargate and Chinchwad depots.
MSRTC officials said they expect a similar or higher turnout this year. Passengers are encouraged to make advance or group bookings to avoid last-minute rush. Details of these special services will be made available through the MSRTC website and mobile app.
To improve accessibility, MSRTC will offer fare concessions to women, senior citizens, and differently-abled passengers. In light of the challenging terrain between Pune and Konkan, known for its steep ghats, sharp turns, and monsoon-related disruptions, special safety measures are also being implemented.
Mobile repair units will be stationed along major routes, and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed continuous staff presence at major depots and stops under the supervision of senior officers.
The additional buses are expected to provide timely relief to thousands of passengers, especially with train seats also filling up rapidly during the holiday season.
