Title - With trains bursting at seams, bus fares go through the roof

Fares charged by private buses plying hundreds of tourists and devotees to pilgrimage centres in the state have almost doubled due to the increased demand and unavailability of train tickets.According to industry insiders, the increase in fares is expected to last till the middle of June. Although several trains from Mumbai stop at popular tourist destinations, tickets are difficult to book due to the rush, the officials said. The state-run buses are also packed to capacity, giving private operators a chance to make more money due to the increase in demand.The price hike is evident in the recent ticket fares to Shirdi from Mumbai. Shirdi is one of the most popular religious places in Maharashtra with innumerable devotees from Mumbai paying visits throughout the year, though the flow increases drastically during summer vacations. The ticket price for an air-conditioned luxury bus trip to Shirdi for one person is Rs750-Rs900 as compared to around Rs350 during non-peak seasons.The case is similar on the Mumbai to Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar route, the most popular twin hill-stations located in Satara district. According to Imran Sheikh of India Travels, the fares of air-conditioned luxury buses are as high as Rs1,200 per person, as opposed to Rs550 otherwise.Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Kolhapur, is another popular tourist spot where bus fares are shooting up by the day. The current rate in an air-conditioned luxury bus is Rs1,800-Rs2,200 per person, which is around Rs1,000-Rs1,200 at other times.“Such rates are very harsh for tourists, but then they prefer to shell it out due to the unavailability of affordable tickets,” said Anand Rai of Rai Tours and Travels in Borivli.Rajesh Wagh, a media professional who recently visited Mahabaleshwar with his wife and son, said: “The steep hike in bus fares combined with the hotel fares created a hole in my pocket.”However, travel agents maintain that there is not much difference between the fares last year during this period and current fares.