The year 2025 has proven to be a landmark period for intercity bus travel in Maharashtra, according to a comprehensive year-end analysis released by the digital ticketing giant redBus. The report paints a picture of robust growth and evolving passenger preferences, highlighting the state's pivotal role in India's road transport sector.
Passenger Demographics and Stellar Business Growth
Delving into the profile of the modern bus traveler in Maharashtra, the data reveals insightful trends. Women constituted 32% of all passengers, a figure that matches the national average, indicating a steady participation. Age-wise, the younger generation is driving demand. Gen Z travelers, aged 25 and below, accounted for 31% of bookings, while millennials (26-40 years) formed the largest bloc, making up nearly half of all passengers.
This surge in users translated into impressive financial metrics for the platform. Prakash Sangam, CEO of redBus, stated, "2025 was a good year for our bus ticketing business." He provided concrete figures, noting that in the first half of the financial year, seat bookings grew by a strong 36% year-on-year. Complementing this volume growth, the company's revenue witnessed an even sharper increase of 39%.
Popular Routes, Booking Patterns, and Pricing
The report clearly identifies the most frequented corridors within and beyond the state. Top intra-state routes included the bustling Mumbai-Kolhapur-Mumbai and Pune-Nagpur-Pune circuits. For interstate travel, the connections to major tech and business hubs were dominant, with Mumbai-Bangalore-Mumbai and Pune-Hyderabad-Pune being highly popular.
While Mumbai remains a significant hub, contributing to 16% of total bookings, the data underscores the widespread adoption of online ticketing across the state. The remaining 84% of bookings originated from other cities and towns in Maharashtra. Passenger growth from Mumbai to other destinations rose by 21% compared to 2024, while growth from other towns was slightly higher at 22%.
Travelers showed a clear preference for comfort. A whopping 84% of all bookings were for AC bus seats, and 85% opted for sleeper coaches over seating. Occupancy rates in Maharashtra consistently outperformed the all-India average, with Sundays being the busiest day of the week for travel.
Festival Spikes, Pilgrimage Boom, and Average Ticket Cost
Major Indian festivals directly influenced travel volumes, with significant spikes recorded during the weekends of Diwali, Independence Day, Rakshabandhan, and Holi. This trend highlights the enduring role of bus travel in connecting families and friends during celebrations.
In terms of destinations, both faith and leisure travel saw substantial growth. Pilgrimage centers, notably Shirdi, experienced a remarkable 29% increase in traveler footfall compared to the previous year. Leisure travel to destinations like Goa also grew by a healthy 15%.
The average ticket price for bus travel in Maharashtra stood at Rs 1,079, which is above the national average of Rs 964. This premium reflects the higher demand for premium services like AC and sleeper seats on these routes.
