Mumbai - Diwali spells prosperity for private bus operators in the city, apparently. Fares on the Mumbai-Goa route as well as those plying to Mahabaleshwar and other holiday spots are registering a steep hike, often double the original fare.
Sample these fares -
A/C Bus running from Mumbai - Goa - Rs 800/- New fare - Rs 1500/-
Bus running towards Mahabaleshwar - Rs 500/- New Fare - Rs 900/ - Rs 1200/-
While the bus operators cite hike in diesel prices as the reason for the hike in the bus fares, the real reason could lie somewhere in those market forces called demand and supply.