Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 25: Bus fares for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) have been increased by 14.95%, with the new rates coming into effect on Saturday.
The fare hike, approved by MSRTC on Friday, follows the formula established by the Hakim Committee. As a result, passengers traveling on MSRTC buses, which operate across a vast network of 15,000 buses, will now face higher fares. The MSRTC fleet serves approximately 55 lakh passengers daily, making it one of India’s largest bus services.
In addition to the bus fare hike, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has also approved a Rs 3 increase in the base fare for auto-rickshaws and black-and-yellow taxis. As per the new rates, auto-rickshaw fares will rise from Rs 23 to Rs 26, while the base fare for taxis will go up from Rs 28 to Rs 31. Moreover, the fare for blue-and-silver AC cool cabs will see an Rs 8 increase, with the new charge for the first 1.5 kilometers now set at Rs 48, up from the previous Rs 40. These fare changes will be applicable once the meters in all vehicles are recalibrated.
In other transportation news, the Western Railway has implemented a three-day jumbo block from January 24 to 26 for the construction of a bridge between Bandra and Mahim. This mega block, which started at 11 PM on January 24, will impact long-distance train schedules. For instance, the Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 20901) will now depart at 06:15 hrs on January 25, while the Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Gujarat Superfast Express (Train No. 22953) will depart at 06:40 hrs. Additionally, Train No. 12009, the Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express, will leave at 06:30 hrs. Train No. 09052, the Bhusaval-Dadar Special, will short terminate at Borivali and will be partially canceled between Borivali and Dadar on January 25, according to updates from Western Railway on social media platform X.