‘Express’ in Name Only: Mumbai–Pune Shivneri Bus Takes 5 Hours
Mumbai/Pune, 11th August 2025: Passengers travelling on the state-run Mumbai–Pune Shivneri AC bus service have expressed frustration over what they say are excessive halts and long travel times, turning what should be a smooth intercity journey into a drawn-out ordeal.
A recent trip from Mumbai to Pune took more than five hours, with multiple stoppages within the city before the bus even reached the expressway. “It’s a complete waste of time,” said a commuter who boarded the bus from Dadar. “A shared cab costs about ₹400 and reaches in three hours. But here, I spent five and a half hours, including unnecessary waits and a 20-minute break on the expressway.”
Passengers also questioned whether the ₹590 fare justified the service quality. “There was no traffic, yet the bus kept halting for long periods in Mumbai. It’s frustrating when you’re paying for an ‘express’ service that feels anything but express,” the passenger added.
According to sources, the delays often occur because buses wait at intermediate stops to fill vacant seats even after departing from the Dadar depot.
When contacted, a senior official from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) acknowledged the complaints and said the issue would be reviewed. “We have noticed that buses taking the route via Vashi bridge, Nerul, and Kharghar tend to face such delays due to repeated stops. However, services operating through Atal Setu have not reported these issues,” the official explained.
