Shivneri Bus Service Expands: 200 New Volvo Buses to Connect Major Maharashtra Cities

The ‘Shivneri’ bus service of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will soon operate beyond the Mumbai-Pune route, an official statement said on Wednesday. State Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik announced that the premium service, long known as the “queen” of the Mumbai-Pune highway, will now connect several major cities across Maharashtra.

Launched in 2002, the Shivneri service has earned a reputation for punctuality, comfortable seating, and safe travel. Despite slightly higher fares compared to ordinary bus services, it has consistently received strong support from passengers, particularly middle-class travellers. According to the minister, the service has remained profitable due to its reliability and quality standards.

To support the statewide expansion, MSRTC has begun the tender process to purchase 200 new, technologically advanced Volvo buses. Once inducted into the fleet, these buses will operate on key inter-city routes across Maharashtra. The proposed routes include:

- Nashik-Pune - Nashik-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar - Nashik-Jalgaon-Dhule - Pune-Kolhapur - Pune-Sangli - Pune-Solapur - Nagpur-Chandrapur - Nagpur-Amravati-Akola

An official statement from the state transport ministry said that at present, eco-friendly e-Shivneri buses operate on routes such as Dadar-Swargate, Dadar-Shivajinagar, Borivali-Swargate, Borivali-Shivajinagar, Thane-Swargate, and Thane-Shivajinagar. These electric buses have received an encouraging response from commuters, reflecting growing demand for environmentally friendly transport options.

Women passengers and senior citizens aged between 65 and 75 receive a 50 per cent discount on fares. Senior citizens above 75 years of age can travel free of charge on Shivneri services. The minister expressed confidence that the new routes would also receive a strong public response due to these concessions.

Out of the 200 new buses, 30 will be sleeper coaches. These ‘Sleeper Shivneri’ buses will replace existing non-air-conditioned sleeper services on certain long-distance routes, the statement said. With modern technology, enhanced safety features, and comfortable bed-coach facilities, the sleeper buses aim to offer a superior experience for overnight travellers.

Sarnaik said the expansion of the Shivneri service marks not just growth in public transport but also a new direction in Maharashtra’s evolving and dynamic travel culture.