A fleet of around 2,900 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses has been arranged to help devotees travel from Mumbai and Thane to their hometowns in Konkan and western Maharashtra during Ganeshotsav 2026, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday.
The announcement was made at an event in Thane where tickets for the free bus service, organised by the Shiv Sena, were distributed. Shinde said the arrangement was intended to provide a safe, comfortable and convenient travel option for devotees who may be unable to secure railway or other transport tickets during the festival season.
A large number of people from Konkan and western Maharashtra traditionally return to their native villages for Ganeshotsav. The annual movement creates significant demand for travel from Mumbai and surrounding urban areas, making access to rail and road transport a central logistical issue during the festival period.
According to a statement issued by Shinde’s office, the free bus initiative will support travellers heading to their hometowns for the celebrations. Shinde said the service had been introduced as part of the Shiv Sena’s social commitment and would continue every year.
He urged devotees to use the travel arrangements and celebrate the festival safely and enthusiastically. The deputy chief minister also thanked those involved in organising the bus service and extended his wishes to devotees ahead of Ganeshotsav.
In his address, Shinde described Ganeshotsav as both a religious celebration and a tradition that brings communities together. He referred to the role of Lokmanya Tilak in using public celebrations of Ganeshotsav and Shiv Jayanti to unite people during the freedom movement.
Shinde also highlighted the role of public Ganesh mandals in organising social-awareness campaigns, themed displays and community initiatives. Referring to the late Anand Dighe, he said Ganeshotsav competitions in Thane had helped strengthen the social-awareness element associated with the festival.
The announcement comes alongside references by Shinde to other measures connected with Maharashtra’s public transport and social policy. These included a 50 per cent concession on ST travel for women, free higher education for girls, skill-development and startup support, pilgrimage facilities for senior citizens, and the use of a woman’s mother’s name alongside her own name in official records.
The bus arrangement is focused on the festival travel period and on passengers travelling towards Konkan and western Maharashtra. Further operational details, including the specific routes, departure schedules and the number of services allocated to individual destinations, were not provided in the statement cited in the announcement.
