Private bus fares from Ahmedabad and Surat to Saurashtra have risen sharply ahead of Diwali, with tickets that normally cost about ₹400-₹500 reportedly reaching ₹1,200-₹1,500 and double-sofa bookings rising to ₹2,800-₹3,000.
A Divya Bhaskar investigation found that operators in Ahmedabad’s Satellite area were quoting significantly higher fares for buses to Rajkot and other Saurashtra destinations as the festival travel rush increased. Staff at travel offices reportedly said fares could rise further when the Diwali vacation begins on November 4 and 5.
According to the report, a private bus ticket from Ahmedabad to Rajkot, normally priced at around ₹500, was being offered for ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 near Diwali. Travel-office staff told the publication that fares could reach ₹2,000, while a single seat or sofa could cost ₹1,500 once the vacation period began. A double sofa was expected to cost ₹3,000 or more.
The higher private-bus fares are significantly above some available public transport options on the same route. The report put the Ahmedabad-Rajkot fare on a Vande Bharat train at ₹810 for chair car and ₹1,505 for executive chair car. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation fares were reported at ₹562 for a Volvo bus and ₹332 for a sleeper bus.
The increase is also affecting passengers travelling from Surat to their home districts in Saurashtra. Divya Bhaskar reported that a reporter posing as a customer visited private travel offices in Surat and was quoted ₹1,500 for a single ticket to Amreli. Double-sofa bookings for festival travel were quoted at ₹3,000, with staff reportedly saying that fares would return to normal only after the festival period, including Labh Pancham.
The report said many buses were already full despite the fare increases because people working, studying and running businesses in Ahmedabad and Surat were seeking to return to their hometowns for Diwali. The pressure is particularly significant for diamond workers and other lower- and middle-income passengers whose travel budgets are affected by the seasonal increase.
Private operators reportedly attributed the higher prices to limited seat availability and festival demand. However, the investigation said travel-office staff acknowledged that elevated fares were being charged across Saurashtra routes during the period.
Former legislator Dhiru Gajera and the Diamond Workers’ Union had previously raised concerns about high festival fares and sought action from the authorities, according to the report. It said no concrete administrative action had been taken so far. Travel offices indicated that fares were expected to remain elevated through the Diwali rush and ease after the festival period.
