The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will run 5,220 additional buses between Mumbai, Thane and Palghar and the Konkan region from September 7 to 25, covering the run-up to Ganeshotsav and the immersion period, according to a Free Press Journal report. Departures are planned from major hubs including Mumbai Central, Parel, Kurla, Borivali, Thane and Pune’s Swargate, heading toward Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, per Digital Bharat Times.

What residents and travellers need to know

Both non-AC express services and premium Shivneri and Shivshahi air-conditioned buses will run on the added schedules. Women get a 50% fare concession under the Mahila Samman Yojana, and senior citizens aged 75 and above travel free, with other existing government concessions still applying. Bookings are open through the MSRTC website and mobile app, and families or Ganesh mandals can arrange advance group bookings of 40 or more passengers through local depots starting August 10.

Konkan-bound travel spikes hard every Ganeshotsav as residents return to native villages for the festival, and private operators typically raise fares two to three times the normal rate on the same routes during this window. The added MSRTC capacity is the state’s main lever for keeping fares in check and seats available for that annual rush.

Context: staffing and fraud concerns

Employee unions have flagged a shortage of drivers, conductors and technical staff heading into the festival period, a recurring strain during MSRTC’s peak seasons. Officials are also watching for fake tickets and misuse of the booking app during the rush. In response, MSRTC says senior officers will supervise operations around the clock at major bus stations, and breakdown-response teams will be stationed along the Mumbai-Goa highway and Western Ghats passes, with mobile repair squads to cut delays from vehicle failures on those routes. Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said Ganeshotsav shares an emotional bond with Konkan residents, pointing to a similar deployment of roughly 5,200 extra buses during the recent Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage that drew a strong passenger response.

Outlook

Commuters planning Konkan travel around Ganesh Chaturthi should book early, particularly for AC services and group slots, since demand typically outstrips even an expanded fleet in the days immediately before the festival and around the immersion dates. Watch for MSRTC’s own updates on added trips if this year’s booking pace matches the union’s concerns about staffing capacity.

Sources: Free Press Journal, Digital Bharat Times

This report was compiled and written with AI assistance from publicly reported sources, and reviewed for accuracy.