Travelling by road for Diwali is proving costlier and longer for passengers coming from Pune. Private bus operators on Pune-Nagpur have jacked-up one-way fares between Rs 3,000-9,000 a fortnight before Diwali, and agents say it may cross Rs 11,000 as Diwali nears. Against a normal of Rs 1,000-1,800, this is up to 400% hike. Last year, same Rs 1,500 tickets were sold at Rs 5,000 and on the last day at Rs 11,000. Online ticketing platforms show jump in number of buses being made available for festive rush, 177 on November 4, 204 on November 5, 220 on November 6, 170 on November 7, against normal 100-160 by 40-69 operators.

 

The timings ex-Pune starts from 5 am to 11.30 pm, with the trips during evening showing significantly higher numbers. Fare sheet on Tuesday showed premium Volvo at Rs 8,999, regular at Rs 3,000-6,750, other Volvo at Rs 7,321. AC Sleeper Rs 2,100-3,500, premium Volvo/Mercedes Rs 2,600-5,500. By car, bad roads made a 9 hour drive into 15 hour drive due to poor condition of roads last year. The State authorities have made significant improvement in roads that has helped travellers cover 120 km distance faster. For private car and carpool users, road condition was the biggest hurdle last Diwali. By self-driven vehicle via Samruddhi Expressway, the journey normally takes 11-15 hours, but last year it took 13-18 hours due to traffic jam and bad patches. Fuel plus toll last year was around Rs 6,500, this year it is expected to be in the range of Rs 8,000-9,000. Intercity cabs which were Rs 10,000-11,000 last year are now quoting Rs 12,000-15,000. Carpooling is now the only best possible way and they are helping absorb the overflow. On BlaBlaCar, Pune City to Nagpur Urban the present rates being quoted are Rs 2,000, Pune-Nagpur Rs 1,800, Hinjewadi-Nagpur Rs 1,930, and travel time around 10 to 15 hours normally.

 

About 66% rides are already booked, showing shift due to bus fare loot. Seats are vanishing within hours on peak dates. Fare cap exists, enforcement missing: As per State guidelines, private intercity buses cannot charge more than 1.5 times MSRTC fare of same class and route during festive season. Maximum price fixed in the range Rs 69.30/km to Rs 169.86/km depending on the bus type. Last October, RTOs had instructed operators and issued helpline email and WhatsApp number for complaints with proof. Flying squads claimed at counters and boarding points. But last year action was taken only after social media outrage.

 

MSRTC to run extra buses at normal fare: MSRTC has decided not to hike fares this Diwali. It will run extra buses from October 29 to November 7 between Nagpur and Pune (Chinchwad) and Nagpur to Pune: Buses from 9 am to 2 pm, almost every hour. One bus on November 2, four buses on November 3, six buses daily from November 4-6, five buses on November 7. Pune to Nagpur: Evening buses from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm, almost every half-an-hour. One bus on November 3, four buses on November 4, six buses daily on November 5-6, five buses on November 7. Booking on npublic.msr-tcors.com or MSRTCN app. Extra buses also from Swargate, Shivajinagar, Pune Station and Pimpri-Chinchwad to Vidarbha. More buses would be introduced to meet the excess demand. Also on Nagpur-Mahur, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Rajura, said the MSRTC officials.