Mumbai to Goa Bus Fares Surge Amid New Year Rush

As Mumbaikars prepare for their New Year celebrations, the cost of private bus travel has surged, particularly for routes to popular destinations like Goa. With train reservations for high-demand trains such as Vande Bharat, Janshatabdi, and Tejas already sold out, and airfares between Mumbai and Goa climbing from INR 5,000 to a staggering INR 32,000, more passengers are turning to private buses as an alternative.

Goa, being a prime destination for New Year revelers, is witnessing one-way traffic from Mumbai, with many buses heading to Goa nearly full, while those returning are left almost empty. This high demand has led to a sharp increase in bus fares, with prices for Mumbai-Goa trips jumping from the usual INR 800–1,000 range to INR 2,000–5,000. Besides Goa, other popular holiday destinations such as Mahabaleshwar, Lonavla-Khandala, the Konkan coast, Daman, and Silvassa have also seen a surge in travel demand, contributing to the fare hike. A private transporter mentioned that during the New Year period, tourists flock to these locations, driving up the cost of travel.

Here’s a snapshot of the private bus fares for popular routes from Mumbai:

• Mumbai to Vaibhavwadi: INR 900–1,000
• Mumbai to Guhagar: INR 600–1,500
• Mumbai to Chiplun: INR 900–5,000
• Mumbai to Sawantwadi: INR 900–3,500
• Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar: INR 500–3,700
• Mumbai to Lonavla: INR 550–3,000

With the demand for travel peaking, the steep rise in private bus fares is becoming a significant concern for travelers. However, for those looking to avoid the steep price hikes of air travel, these buses remain a popular option despite the surge in costs.