The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will operate more than 600 special buses from Pune between November 4 and 7 to handle the expected Diwali travel rush, as reservations on regular services fill up and train availability tightens.
The additional services will run from the Pimpri Chinchwad, Swargate and Shivajinagar bus stations. More than 400 buses will be deployed from the Pimpri Chinchwad depot, primarily for passengers travelling to Marathwada, Vidarbha and Khandesh. The depot has also hired a nearby ground to accommodate parking for the additional fleet.
The Pimpri Chinchwad depot’s connectivity to the metro network is expected to improve access for passengers. In earlier years, additional buses for these regions operated from the Khadki Cantonment area, but the location was considered inconvenient for travellers. MSRTC explored using a site opposite the Wakdewadi bus station, but the land could not be secured because it is under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
Swargate bus station will operate 200 additional buses for western Maharashtra and the Konkan region. These services will cater to destinations including Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur. MSRTC also plans to operate special services from Shivajinagar, although the corporation has not provided a final number for that station in the information available.
The additional buses are being introduced as demand rises ahead of the Diwali holidays. More than 85 regular buses operating from the Pune division to Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra have already been fully booked, indicating strong demand for intercity travel during the festive period. Regular services will continue while the special operations are in place.
The arrangement also highlights the logistical pressure placed on Pune’s bus terminals during major festivals. The corporation must accommodate additional vehicles, identify parking space and coordinate passenger movement while continuing its normal timetable. MSRTC is appointing officials to coordinate the additional services and manage the expected rush at the bus stations.
Online reservations for the special buses are expected to open within two days. Passengers will be able to book tickets through MSRTC’s official website, mobile application and reservation counters. The corporation has not indicated that the special services will replace regular buses; instead, they are being added to supplement existing capacity during the November 4-7 travel period.
