Pune RTO Checks 929 Private Buses Before Diwali, Finds 315 Violations and Recovers ₹25.82 Lakh in Fines and Taxes
Pune RTO checked 929 buses in September and October and found 315 in violation, recovering ₹25.82 lakh in fines and pending taxes before the Diwali rush.
Photo: Shrutuja Shirke / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 2nd November 2026: The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) inspected 929 buses in September and October ahead of the Diwali travel rush and found 315 of them breaking rules, recovering ₹25.82 lakh in fines and unpaid taxes, Deputy Regional Transport Officer Swapnil Bhosale said.
The special drive was meant to “ensure compliance with transport regulations” during the festive season, Bhosale told the Free Press Journal, adding that further action will follow. No bus was detained during the two months.
Month-wise figures
| September | October | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buses checked | 433 | 496 | 929 |
| Buses found in violation | 154 | 161 | 315 |
| Cases decided | 122 | 63 | 185 |
| Fines recovered | ₹12.43 lakh | ₹11.10 lakh | ₹23.53 lakh |
| Pending taxes recovered | ₹1.37 lakh | ₹0.92 lakh | ₹2.29 lakh |
| Total recovered | ₹13.80 lakh | ₹12.02 lakh | ₹25.82 lakh |
That works out to roughly one in three buses checked being caught on some violation. The RTO has not shared a breakdown of the types of violations.
Why it matters this week
Thousands of Punekars travel home by private bus during Diwali, to Marathwada, Vidarbha, Konkan, Goa and Karnataka, and operators often raise fares sharply in the peak days. Maharashtra caps private bus fares at 1.5 times the MSRTC fare for the same route; our earlier report explains the fare cap and how to complain about overcharging. MSRTC is also running 1,200 extra ST buses from Pune for Diwali.
Frequently asked questions
How many buses did Pune RTO check before Diwali 2026?
929 buses in September and October 2026, of which 315 were found violating rules.
How much did Pune RTO recover in fines?
₹25.82 lakh in total: ₹23.53 lakh in fines and ₹2.29 lakh in pending taxes.
What is the maximum fare a private bus can charge in Maharashtra?
Private bus fares are capped at 1.5 times the MSRTC fare for the same route and type of service.
