Going to Goa on Dec 31? Hop on to new state AC buses from Mumbai Central

MSRTC launches Mumbai-Goa AC buses, one-way fare will cost Rs913 per adult

If your railway ticket to Goa for the New Year is still not confirmed and private bus operators are quoting exorbitant fares, you can now reach the coastal state in MSRTC’s air-conditioned (AC) buses.

The new AC bus service fleet will comprise Shivshahi buses (HT FILE)

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) from Friday launched AC bus service on the Mumbai-Panaji route, considering the huge rush of people who head to Goa for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The bus for Goa will depart from Mumbai Central depot every day at 5pm and it will reach its destination via Panvel, Chiplun, Lanja, Rajapur, Kankavali, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Banda and Mhapsa, at around 8am. It will depart for Mumbai the next day from Panaji at 6pm and reach Mumbai before 9am.

An MSRTC spokesperson said an adult passenger will have to pay Rs913 for one-way journey between Mumbai and Goa. “The bus service has received overwhelming response. All 45 seats of the bus on the maiden journey were booked,” he said.

MSRTC is the biggest road transport undertaking in the country with a fleet of more than 18,000 buses.

Under the brand name Shivshahi, MSRTC has introduced a new class of AC buses for making AC bus journey affordable for those passengers who do not want to pay the high fare of its luxury Shivneri and Ashwamedh buses. While Shivneri and Ashwamedh buses are Volvo and Scania-make vehicles, Shivnshahi buses are built in India.

Entertainment screens are provided behind every seat for passengers on board Shivshahi buses and currently over 250 buses are plying on various intercity routes across the state.