The Pune division of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has rolled out 230 special buses to Konkan to meet the surge in demand during the Ganpati festival. With thousands of natives travelling from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to their hometowns along the Konkan belt, the additional services are aimed at easing the pressure on regular routes and ensuring a smooth festive commute.
The Konkan region, known for its elaborate Ganeshotsav celebrations, draws large numbers of visitors every year. Towns including Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Rajapur, Guhagar, Khed, Mangaon, Dapoli, Devrukh, Sawantwadi and Devgad see an exponential rise in arrivals during the festival. This year, officials noted a substantial increase in advance bookings compared to the previous year, particularly from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where around 141 group buses were booked weeks ahead of the festival.
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The buses have been dispatched from multiple depots to ensure wide coverage and convenience for passengers. Depots in Shivajinagar, Swargate, Narayangaon, Rajgurunagar, Baramati, Indapur, Shirur and Talegaon are among those operating additional services. Each bus carries about 42 passengers, making it possible for thousands of travellers to return home in time for the festivities without major delays or overcrowding.Transport officials explained that despite the large deployment of buses, regular services across other routes have not been disrupted. Some of the buses have already made return trips, indicating an efficient turnaround system designed to cope with the surge. According to experts, this model of balancing special festival buses with regular operations offers a practical framework for urban mobility planning during high-demand periods.
Beyond addressing the immediate festive rush, the move reflects the broader challenge of sustainable transport planning in Indian cities. Experts suggest that future strategies should focus on integrating green mobility options such as electric buses on high-demand routes during festivals. With the state committed to expanding its zero-carbon fleet, festival seasons could be used as pilot phases to test eco-friendly services while simultaneously meeting passenger expectations.
For Pune, which already experiences rising commuter numbers on both intra-city metro services and inter-city buses, festival management has become a crucial indicator of transport resilience. By prioritising both urban and rural connectivity, MSRTC has ensured that tradition and modern mobility demands co-exist without compromising passenger convenience.This year’s Ganpati festival is expected to record one of the highest passenger volumes in recent memory, but with 230 additional buses on the road, Pune appears well-prepared to meet the challenge.
