Passenger Rush on Buses in Pune During Ganeshotsav; Operators See 25% Increase

Pune, 30th August 2025: The festive season has brought a sharp increase in travel demand, with private luxury buses from Pune witnessing nearly 25% growth in passengers during the first three days of Ganeshotsav. Operators said the rush is expected to continue over the weekend as devotees head home to celebrate the festival with their families.

Bus pick-up hubs such as Sangamwadi, Nagar Road, Swargate, and Hadapsar have been teeming with crowds since Tuesday night. Every day, around 700 private buses leave Pune for different destinations, and operators have kept arrangements ready to deploy additional services if required.

Balasaheb Khedekar, president of the Private Bus Operators’ Association, noted, “Since Tuesday evening, there has been a steady rise in passengers. We are operating about 25% more services compared to regular days, and we expect similar numbers when people return after the festival.”

MSRTC Adds More Services for Ganeshotsav
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has also stepped up to meet the festive demand. Officials said nearly 150 extra buses are being run from Pune, primarily towards Konkan, which remains a popular destination during Ganeshotsav.

An MSRTC official said they have observed around a 15% rise in commuters since last week. To manage the load, additional trips are being scheduled. Plans are also in place to run more services from Konkan, Raigad, and other regions back to Pune after the festival concludes.

PMPML Extends Services for City Commuters
For local travellers, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) has extended bus operations late into the night on busy routes. Officials said at least 270 buses will run from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) area, while over 700 trips are scheduled across Pune city and surrounding regions during the festival.

PMPML further added that buses will be introduced depending on passenger demand to ensure smooth commuting for Ganeshotsav devotees.