In a move aimed at providing relief to long-distance travelers, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to introduce a 15% discount on ticket fares for passengers who book in advance. This discount scheme will come into effect from July 1 and will remain valid throughout the year, except during peak seasons such as Diwali and summer vacations, when the offer will not apply.
According an official, benefit will be available only to those traveling on medium and long-distance routes—specifically, journeys covering more than 150 kilometers. It will apply only to passengers paying the full fare, meaning those traveling under discounted categories like students or senior citizens will not be eligible. The minister emphasized that the goal of the initiative is to encourage more passengers to opt for advance bookings, which will help in better planning and reduce overcrowding during off-peak periods.
According to an official, passengers who book their tickets at least 24 hours before the start of the journey will also be able to avail the benefits of this scheme.
"The discount will be applicable across all types of MSRTC buses, including the premium e-Shivneri services that operate on popular routes like Mumbai to Pune. Passengers can avail themselves of the discount by booking their tickets through the official MSRTC website (npublic.msrtcors.com), the MSRTC Bus Reservation mobile app, or by visiting authorized ticket counters.
According to MSRTC, scheme would also be valid during important festivals such as Ashadhi Ekadashi and Ganesh Chaturthi, provided that passengers make their bookings in advance. For instance, devotees traveling to Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi or those heading to Konkan for Ganesh festival celebrations can benefit from the 15% concession if they reserve seats early, although the offer does not extend to special or additional buses arranged during these events.
Minister Sarnaik urged citizens to take full advantage of this scheme and support the ST Corporation by choosing advance bookings. He stated that such efforts will not only benefit commuters by offering savings but will also aid the Corporation in managing operations more efficiently during non-peak travel seasons.
