Pune RTO Warns Private Buses Against Diwali Overcharging: Fares Capped at 1.5 Times MSRTC; WhatsApp 8275330209 for Complaints Till November 20

Pune, 1st November 2026: Planning to take a private bus home for Diwali? The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has warned private bus operators that they cannot charge passengers more than 1.5 times the fare of a comparable MSRTC bus on the same route. A special inspection drive against overcharging will run until 20 November.

Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad has said operators breaking the limit will face action under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The fare cap is not new. It comes from a state government order dated 27 April 2018, but every festival season, travellers from Pune to Nagpur, Latur, Nanded, Kolhapur, Goa and Bengaluru report fares that are two or three times the normal rate.

How to work out the maximum fare

The cap is linked to the MSRTC fare for the same type of bus on the same route. A simple way to check:

1. Look up the MSRTC fare for your route on the MSRTC booking website or app, for the closest comparable service (for example, Shivshahi or Shivneri for AC seating, or an MSRTC sleeper where available).
2. Multiply it by 1.5. That is the most a private operator can legally charge for a similar service.
3. Compare it with what the booking app or travel agent is asking.

For example, if the MSRTC fare for a route is Rs 800, a private operator should not charge more than Rs 1,200 for a comparable seat. Fares on aggregator apps change by the hour during the Diwali week, so take a screenshot of the price when you book.

How to complain to Pune RTO

Passengers who are overcharged can complain on WhatsApp at 8275330209 or by email to rto.12-mh@gov.in. Include:

• Your name and mobile number
• A clear photo of the ticket or booking confirmation showing the fare
• The bus operator’s name, route, date and, if possible, the vehicle number

Complaints with a ticket photo are far easier for the RTO to act on than general complaints about “high fares”. The RTO has also told operators to keep their buses in good condition and carry valid documents, so you can report a bus that is clearly unsafe or overcrowded.

Cheaper ways to travel this Diwali

MSRTC is running extra buses from Pune for the festival rush. See our report on 1,200 extra ST buses from Pune. For longer routes, the railways have announced Diwali special trains from Pune, and the new Vande Bharat Sleeper via Pune is an option for Bengaluru.

Book early and travel on a weekday if you can. The days just before Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November, and the return days after Bhau Beej on 11 November are usually the most expensive.

Frequently asked questions