MSRTC has rejected a proposed 15% fare hike for the Diwali travel season, keeping fares unchanged for passengers travelling between November 1 and November 15, 2026. The decision was taken after chairperson Pratap Sarnaik said commuters should not face an additional financial burden while farmers and households are dealing with drought and inflation.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation increases fares temporarily every year during the peak Diwali travel period. This year, its administration had submitted a proposal for a blanket 15% increase covering the two-week festive rush. Sarnaik turned down the proposal on Thursday, according to the Times of India report.
Sarnaik acknowledged that MSRTC is facing financial losses but said recovering those losses from ordinary commuters would be unjustified. He said the corporation would have to identify alternative ways to address its financial difficulties without placing the burden on passengers.
MSRTC buses, commonly known as Lalpari, serve as a primary mode of affordable transport for millions of people across rural Maharashtra. Farmers, labourers, students and senior citizens depend on the network to travel between villages, towns and major cities. A seasonal increase would have directly raised travel costs for passengers during one of the busiest periods of the year.
The decision is particularly significant for households affected by drought, as well as citizens facing higher everyday expenses because of inflation. The proposed increase would have applied across the corporation’s services during the Diwali period rather than being limited to a specific route or category of passenger.
Sarnaik said public welfare would remain the administration’s priority and assured commuters that the corporation would not abandon farmers or ordinary citizens. He also reiterated that providing safe, reliable and affordable travel from remote villages to larger urban centres remains MSRTC’s core responsibility.
The corporation has not disclosed in the report what alternative measures it will adopt to manage its losses after rejecting the fare proposal. The immediate decision means passengers will not face the proposed 15% seasonal increase during the November 1–15 Diwali travel window.
