With Ganeshotsav set to begin on 27 August, Mumbai and neighbouring districts are witnessing a surge in demand for state transport buses to the Konkan region. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has already seen over 5,100 of its specially deployed buses booked, underscoring the strong preference among citizens for affordable and reliable public transport during the festive season.
According to transport officials, the corporation has planned a total of 5,200 additional buses between 23 August and 7 September to meet the spike in passenger volumes. These services supplement the existing fleet and are intended to ease the burden on private vehicles and long-distance trains, which typically face overwhelming demand during Ganesh festivities.
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The highest demand has come from group reservations made by families and community groups travelling together to Konkan villages. Officials confirmed that 4,479 buses have already been reserved under this category, highlighting the cultural importance of collective journeys during the festival. Alongside these, individual reservations have also been steadily rising in recent days. In a move aimed at making festive travel more inclusive, MSRTC has extended special concessions. Women and senior citizens are receiving a 50 per cent reduction in fares, while Amrut senior citizens are eligible for free travel under a full concession scheme. Transport experts say these measures not only ease the financial burden on passengers but also reflect a push towards equitable mobility policies.
The rising preference for public transport also underscores a broader shift towards sustainable travel. Officials pointed out that large-scale use of state-run buses helps reduce road congestion and lowers carbon emissions compared to thousands of private vehicles making the same journey. For a megacity like Mumbai, where pollution and gridlock remain pressing challenges, such seasonal migration by bus offers an important case study in collective, eco-friendly mobility. The timing of the deployment is also critical. Ganeshotsav is one of Maharashtra’s most widely celebrated festivals, with lakhs of people returning to their native towns and villages. While trains remain a popular mode of transport, limited seat availability and high fares on private buses push many households to opt for state-run services. In this context, MSRTC’s additional services are seen as a vital step in ensuring equitable access to travel.
Civic planners note that sustainable mobility must extend beyond festivals and become a year-round priority. Strengthening state bus services, integrating them with urban transport networks, and incentivising eco-friendly mass transit are increasingly seen as essential to building resilient cities. For now, the fully booked buses reflect both tradition and transformation—tradition in families travelling together for Ganesh celebrations, and transformation in how cities are beginning to reimagine public transport as the backbone of sustainable mobility.
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