Pune passengers now have a direct public transport connection to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation starting two daily E-Shivai bus services from Swargate on Wednesday. The service offers morning and afternoon departures, but passengers have already raised concerns that the limited frequency may not match the airport’s expected growth.
The morning bus leaves Swargate at 6.15am and is scheduled to reach NMIA at around 9.30am. The afternoon service departs at 2.25pm and is expected to arrive at approximately 6pm, according to Arun Siya, divisional controller of MSRTC’s Pune division. The adult fare is Rs445, while the fare for children is Rs230.
The 126km route has 22 stops across key residential, commercial and employment areas. These include Wanaz, Chandni Chowk, Balewadi, Hinjewadi Phata and Indira College in Wakad, extending the service beyond central Pune to parts of the city’s western growth corridor. Passengers eligible for concessions can use the applicable benefits, while National Common Mobility Card users can also access relevant concessions.
The route is significant because airport access from Pune is shaped not only by distance but also by traffic conditions and the reliability of road connections. A passenger quoted in the report said travelling to Pune airport from Hinjewadi Phase 3 can be difficult because of congestion, while the expressway and Connecting Link provide a more convenient route to NMIA. The passenger also urged MSRTC to ensure punctual operations so travellers do not risk missing flights.
MSRTC officials said the Pune–NMIA service could be expanded depending on passenger response. The corporation expects demand to increase as flight operations at the new airport grow. MSRTC has also introduced similar NMIA services from Borivali and Dadar, creating connections from multiple parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune.
NMIA has provided space for bus parking and established a control room for coordination, according to a senior MSRTC official. The airport currently handles around 150 to 156 flight movements a day. For Pune passengers, the immediate utility of the new service will therefore depend on how consistently the two departures operate, how well the timings match flight schedules and whether additional services are introduced as passenger volumes rise.
