Pune: As the Diwali season approaches, private bus operators in Pune have once again hiked fares, following the trend seen every year. This move has caused significant financial distress for passengers, as many private operators set fares based on increased demand during the festival period.

On an average day, approximately 900 private buses operate from Pune. However, during Diwali, an additional 600 buses are deployed to meet the rising demand. Many of these buses are rented by operators, leading to even higher fare prices.

Popular routes from Pune include destinations in Marathwada and Vidarbha, as well as Bengaluru and Hyderabad. For journeys longer than 300 kilometers, bus operators have significantly increased fares. While regular seating buses have seen smaller fare hikes, AC sleeper buses have witnessed sharp increases, with fares doubling or tripling in some cases.

This year, Diwali begins on October 28, but many passengers have already booked their travel from October 26 onwards, leaving most of the 900 private buses fully booked. Post-Diwali return travel is expected to be even more expensive, with private operators raising fares by an additional ₹400 to ₹500 on top of the already inflated prices.

Passengers face difficulties booking state-run buses or trains as they are often fully reserved, forcing many to rely on private buses despite the higher prices.

In response, transport authorities have promised action. Baba Shinde, President of the Maharashtra State Passenger and Goods Transport Association, assured that operators found violating fare regulations would face penalties.

Archana Gaikwad, the Regional Transport Officer of Pune, also confirmed that inspection teams will be deployed to monitor bus operators during this period.