As Mumbaikars prepare for their New Year celebrations, the cost of private bus travel has surged, particularly for routes to popular destinations like Goa. With train reservations for high-demand trains such as Vande Bharat, Janshatabdi, and Tejas already sold out, and airfares between Mumbai and Goa climbing from INR 5,000 to a staggering INR 32,000, more passengers are turning to private buses as an alternative.
Goa, being a prime destination for New Year revelers, is witnessing one-way traffic from Mumbai, with many buses heading to Goa nearly full, while those returning are left almost empty. This high demand has led to a sharp increase in bus fares, with prices for Mumbai-Goa trips jumping from the usual INR 800–1,000 range to INR 2,000–5,000. Besides Goa, other popular holiday destinations such as Mahabaleshwar, Lonavla-Khandala, the Konkan coast, Daman, and Silvassa have also seen a surge in travel demand, contributing to the fare hike. A private transporter mentioned that during the New Year period, tourists flock to these locations, driving up the cost of travel.
Here’s a snapshot of the private bus fares for popular routes from Mumbai:
- Mumbai to Vaibhavwadi: INR 900–1,000
- Mumbai to Guhagar: INR 600–1,500
- Mumbai to Chiplun: INR 900–5,000
- Mumbai to Sawantwadi: INR 900–3,500
- Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar: INR 500–3,700
- Mumbai to Lonavla: INR 550–3,000
With the demand for travel peaking, the steep rise in private bus fares is becoming a significant concern for travelers. However, for those looking to avoid the steep price hikes of air travel, these buses remain a popular option despite the surge in costs.