MSRTC bus ride to get 15% costlier from today

Pune: The state transport authority has hiked the fares of MSRTC buses by 14.95% on all routes. The new rate will come into effect from Saturday.
"The cost of machinery and equipment has gone up. Hence, a decision was taken to increase the fares. We have been in discussion with state govt since last year regarding the same," a senior MSRTC official told TOI. The fares were last increased in 2021.
The state transport body presently has a fleet of around 15,000 buses catering to around 55 lakh passengers daily. These include ordinary, semi-luxury, and luxury buses.
Following the hike, the fare of an e-Shivneri bus from Swargate bus depot to Dadar, which is now Rs 535, is expected to increase to Rs 615. The fare of a semi-luxury Shivshahi bus from Swargate to Solapur, is expected to increase from Rs 555 to Rs 638, sources in the transport body said.
"We are presently calculating the fares. The rates will be made public once we are done," Pramod Nehul, MSRTC's Pune divisional controller said.
The transport body has been facing heavy losses since the pandemic. MSRTC was hit by a strike that went on for five to six months, crippling its services. The strike resulted in the transport body facing a loss of more than Rs 4,000 crore. Last Aug, MSRTC said it earned a profit of Rs 16.86 crore after nine years.
Passengers said the rise in fares would hit them hard. "Prices of all commodities have increased. MSRTC services have become bad over the years. So, why is the transport body increasing fares? This will increase our burden," said Sanchit Tiwary, who frequently travels between Pune and Mumbai.
Pune: The state transport authority has hiked the fares of MSRTC buses by 14.95% on all routes. The new rate will come into effect from Saturday.
"The cost of machinery and equipment has gone up. Hence, a decision was taken to increase the fares. We have been in discussion with state govt since last year regarding the same," a senior MSRTC official told TOI. The fares were last increased in 2021.
The state transport body presently has a fleet of around 15,000 buses catering to around 55 lakh passengers daily. These include ordinary, semi-luxury, and luxury buses.
Following the hike, the fare of an e-Shivneri bus from Swargate bus depot to Dadar, which is now Rs 535, is expected to increase to Rs 615. The fare of a semi-luxury Shivshahi bus from Swargate to Solapur, is expected to increase from Rs 555 to Rs 638, sources in the transport body said.
"We are presently calculating the fares. The rates will be made public once we are done," Pramod Nehul, MSRTC's Pune divisional controller said.
The transport body has been facing heavy losses since the pandemic. MSRTC was hit by a strike that went on for five to six months, crippling its services. The strike resulted in the transport body facing a loss of more than Rs 4,000 crore. Last Aug, MSRTC said it earned a profit of Rs 16.86 crore after nine years.
Passengers said the rise in fares would hit them hard. "Prices of all commodities have increased. MSRTC services have become bad over the years. So, why is the transport body increasing fares? This will increase our burden," said Sanchit Tiwary, who frequently travels between Pune and Mumbai.