The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) महाराष्ट्र राज्य मार्ग परिवहन महामंडळ was founded in 1960 under Section 3 of the RTC Act 1950 by the Maharashtra state government to strengthen the road transportation network. MSRTC is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The operation scale of the MSRTC is remarkable; it has a fleet of more than 21,400 buses and employs more than 12,000 people. More than 70 lakh people use the MSRTC buses daily for transportation.
MSRTC buses also cater to the last-mile connectivity challenges, reaching almost every village with adequate road infrastructure. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation tops the list of preferred transportation methods and plans to launch more buses to take passengers to every corner of Maharashtra. In addition, you can make MSRTC online bookings using trusted service providers like the redBus.
Popular Cities to Explore by MSRTC Ticket Booking
The MSRTC buses cover more than 95,000 travel routes daily across Maharashtra and the neighbouring states. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses have excellent frequency and serve passengers throughout the day. One can conveniently make an MSRTC online booking for their destination city using the redBus application or website. Some of the most popular cities covered by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses include:
Popular Travel Routes Covered by MSRTC
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses cover more than 95,000 travel routes daily, serving more than 70 lakh daily commuters in and around Maharashtra. Here is a list of some mainstream travel routes one can travel on by MSRTC ticket booking.
The shortest and longest route covered by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses is between Poladpur to Shirur and Kasoda to Shirur. You can quickly check the MSRTC bus timings on the redBus application before booking an MSRTC ticket for your travel route.
Popular Pilgrimage Destinations with MSRTC
MSRTC special bus services are often available for pilgrimage seekers. With MSRTC buses, pilgrimage seekers from different states can easily access public transportation. It offers ‘Yatra’ services to different pilgrimage sites in cities like Satara, Sangli, Nanded, Nashik, Nagpur, Jalgaon, Dhule, and Buldhana. During the festive seasons, many Yatra bus services from MSRTC are available at a discounted rate. Some popular pilgrimage destinations with MSRTC are as follows:
- Balaji Maharaj
- Pimpalgaon Devi
- Mahasiddha Yatra
- Kalamdev Yatra
- Nagai Devi
- Ambika Devi
- Nasik
- Shirdi
- Ganpatipule
- Shani Shingnapur
- Trimbakeshwar
- Ganeshgule
- Bhimashankar
- Ghrushneswar
Pilgrimage sites like Shirdi are popular among devotees who want to offer their prayers. You can easily make MSRTC online reservations for your preferred pilgrimage destinations with the redBus portal.
Types of MSRTC buses
With a vision to provide passengers comfortable, safe and economical transport facilities, MSRTC has a fleet of buses operating in Maharashtra and neighbouring states. Many MSRTC buses are built in their in-house workshops. MSRTC also runs Volvo and Scania buses under different names.
All these bus types address the requirements of different categories of passengers and their travel needs. Broadly MSRTC operates the following types of bus services:
- MSRTC Day Ordinary bus service serves all small and big towns of Maharashtra, irrespective of revenue and road conditions. The main target of this bus service is to provide bus connectivity and convenient travel options to passengers.
- MSRTC Parivartan is a value-added service of MSRTC to offer comfortable and cost-effective travel services to a large segment of MSRTC passengers, which gives them a better experience than ordinary buses. However, the fare for Parivartan services is similar to the ordinary buses.
- Asiad is a semi-luxury non-air-conditioned 2x2 bus service. This type of bus operates on specific routes from Pune to other destinations offering comfortable and cost-effective travel services for long journeys.
- Shivneri the key brand for MSRTC. Shivneri Services are air-conditioned sleeper/seater Volvo bus service of MSRTC, offering safe, comfortable, and convenient travel options between the major cities of Maharashtra. MSRTC also operates Shivneri across major locations in neighbouring states like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa (Panjim), etc.
- Sheetal is the MSRTC new Air Conditions 2X2 Semi Luxury bus service. MSRTC has priced this service optimally to give passengers the convenience of AC journeys.
MSRTC has also partnered with private contractors to run some of its AC buses. MSRTC also operates non-AC buses with beds and reclinable seats. One can view the MSRTC bus type of redBus while booking an e-ticket. The bus types operated by MSRTC are as follows:
- Ordinary buses
- Parivartan buses
- Asiad buses
- City buses
- Shivneri AC buses
- Shivshahi buses
- Non-AC Vithai buses
- Shivai buses
MSRTC Special Bus Services
MSRTC special bus services are often available for pilgrims. For pilgrims and tourists coming to Konkan darshan, Ashtvinayak darshan, Raigad Fort, and Bhimashankar, MSRTC offers special bus services. MSRTC also runs special coach services during festive seasons in Maharashtra. Also, MSRTC provides bus services during national and international events in Maharashtra. One can learn more about MSRTC's special bus services via its official website.
Special Tour Packages of MSRTC
On its level, MSRTC offers tour packages all across India. Tour packages offered by MSRTC contain bus tickets and several curated activities. Some special tour packages of MSRTC are as follows:
- Shrivardhan – Diveaagar – Harihareshwar
- Pune Raigad Ropeway
- Ozar – Lenydri – Malshej Ghat
- Ashtavinayak Darshan
- Mini South India
- Konkan Darshan
MSRTC Bus Pass Info
MSRTC also offers bus passes for passengers. MSRTC bus passes help daily commuters like office workers, students, and labourers. Instead of taking a ticket on the same MSRTC bus, passengers can go for a monthly pass. By doing so, passengers have to pay less than taking a ticket daily. Monthly, yearly, and quarterly passes are available for MSRTC buses. One can apply for an MSRTC bus pass via any depot, counter, or office. MSRTC also offers bus passes for four and seven days.
MSRTC Cancellation Charges/Price
MSRTC allows passengers to cancel bus tickets due to a change of plans. However, passengers must pay cancellation charges based on their cancellation timing. The general MSRTC cancellation charges are as follows:
- If you cancel an MSRTC bus ticket before 24 hours of departure, you only have to pay 10% of the ticket amount as a cancellation charge.
- If you cancel an MSRTC bus ticket 12-24 hours before the departure, you must pay 25% of the ticket amount as a cancellation charge.
- If you cancel an MSRTC bus ticket 12-4 hours before the departure, you must pay 50% of the ticket amount as a cancellation charge.
- If you cancel an MSRTC bus ticket four (or less) hours before the departure, you must pay 100% of the ticket amount as a cancellation charge.
MSRTC Offer and Discount
Use the code FIRST to get a 10% discount up to Rs 150 + Rs 100 cashback on bus tickets. This offer is exclusively accessible to first-time users and is valid for a minimum ticket value of Rs 200. The offer is only valid once per the customer's email address or mobile phone number. This offer is only available to logged-in users who confirm their mobile number using an OTP .within 48 working hours of the date of the ride; the cashback will be credited to your redBus wallet. The offer cash is valid for six months from the date it is credited to the wallet, after which it will expire and be ineligible. The redBus deal is valid across all channels.
