The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has rejected a proposed 15% seasonal fare hike for the Diwali travel period, preventing an additional cost for passengers travelling between November 1 and November 15, 2026. The decision was taken by MSRTC chairperson Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday, with the corporation citing the financial pressure facing farmers and ordinary households.
MSRTC increases fares temporarily every year during the peak Diwali travel period. This year, its administration had submitted a proposal for a blanket 15% increase covering the two-week festive rush. Sarnaik turned down the proposal, stating that commuters should not be made to bear an additional burden while Maharashtra is dealing with drought and inflation.
The decision affects the state-run bus network’s role as an affordable transport link between rural settlements and major cities. MSRTC buses, commonly known as Lalpari, are used by farmers, labourers, students and senior citizens for daily travel and longer journeys. For households already facing higher living costs or reduced agricultural incomes, a seasonal fare increase would have raised the cost of essential travel during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Sarnaik acknowledged that MSRTC is facing financial losses but said recovering those losses from ordinary passengers would not be justified. He directed the administration to look for alternative solutions to address the corporation’s financial difficulties without transferring the full burden to commuters.
The decision places affordability at the centre of MSRTC’s immediate fare policy while leaving the corporation’s financial challenge unresolved. The state transport undertaking’s buses remain an important option for passengers in remote villages who may have limited access to other forms of public transport. Keeping fares unchanged during the Diwali period is therefore also a decision about maintaining access to cities, markets, workplaces, educational institutions and public services.
Sarnaik said public welfare would remain the administration’s priority and assured citizens that the corporation would not abandon farmers or ordinary people. He also reiterated that providing safe, reliable and affordable travel from remote villages to major cities remained MSRTC’s core responsibility.
The rejected proposal covered the period from November 1 to November 15, 2026. The corporation is now expected to pursue other measures to manage its financial losses, although the source report does not specify what those measures will be.
