Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has rejected a proposed 15% MSRTC fare hike for the Diwali travel period, ensuring that passengers will not pay the seasonal increase on state-run buses between November 1 and 15, 2026.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation had proposed raising ticket prices during the festive period because of the expected surge in passenger demand. Sarnaik opposed the proposal, saying that an additional travel cost would increase the financial burden on households facing inflation, rising living expenses and difficulties affecting the agricultural sector.
In a statement shared on October 15, the minister said passengers should not be subjected to an extra expense during a period when many families were already managing tight budgets. The decision means commuters can plan Diwali journeys without accounting for the proposed 15% seasonal increase.
MSRTC’s red buses are a key transport link across Maharashtra, connecting cities and towns with villages and remote areas. The network is used by farmers, agricultural workers, students, working professionals and senior citizens travelling for employment, education, healthcare, family visits and other essential purposes.
Diwali is one of the busiest travel periods in the state, with large numbers of passengers travelling to their hometowns and returning to work or educational centres. A seasonal fare increase would have raised the cost of these journeys, particularly for households travelling in groups or making multiple inter-city trips during the November 1-15 period.
The rejection provides immediate relief to passengers, but it also leaves MSRTC without the additional revenue it had anticipated from higher festive-season fares. The transport corporation traditionally considers seasonal fare revisions when demand rises sharply. With the proposed increase withdrawn, its financial requirements will have to be managed without transferring that specific additional cost to commuters.
The decision also highlights the difficult balance facing state transport undertakings. MSRTC must maintain affordable connectivity for passengers while meeting the costs of operating a large bus network across densely populated cities, smaller towns and underserved rural regions. Its services remain particularly important in places where alternative public transport options are limited or unavailable.
For passengers, the immediate position is clear: MSRTC fares will not include the proposed 15% Diwali surcharge during the November 1-15 travel window. The corporation’s next steps on managing its financial requirements were not specified in the announcement.
