Mumbai, March 03: As Maharashtra and Goa gear up to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours that marks reunions, celebrations, and festive getaways, intercity travel demand is witnessing significant momentum. Data from the redBus platform indicates that bus bookings across Maharashtra and Goa are projected to increase by 42 percent during the Holi travel window.
The analysis compares projected bookings between February 28 and March 8, 2026, with the corresponding period last year (March 8 to March 16, 2025), highlighting a sharp rise in both homebound and leisure-led journeys. The surge reflects increased demand for festive travel, family reunions, and short holiday getaways during the Holi season.
Strong Preference for Bus Travel During Festive Season
The continued growth underscores buses as a preferred mode of transport during festive occasions, particularly for short to mid-distance travel. Travellers are increasingly booking in advance and opting for comfort-led services across high-demand corridors connecting major cities with hometowns and popular tourism destinations.
Key Travel Projections (As per redBus Platform Data)
Top Routes by Traffic:
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Nagpur – Pune
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Pune – Nagpur
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Pune – Mumbai
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Pune – Goa
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Pune – Hyderabad
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Mumbai – Hyderabad
Top Boarding Points by Traffic:
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Sangamwadi (Pune)
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Wakad (Pune)
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Swargate (Pune)
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Ashirwad Theatre (Pune)
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Borivali East (Mumbai)
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Nigdi (Pune)
Travellers’ Preferences
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85% of bookings are for AC buses, reflecting a strong preference for comfortable travel options.
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15% of bookings are for non-AC buses.
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89% of travellers have opted for sleeper buses, highlighting the popularity of convenient overnight journeys during the festive travel period.
Traveller Demographics
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Male travellers account for 68% of total bookings, while female travellers represent 32%.
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48% of travellers begin their journeys from Mumbai (Tier 1 city).
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20% depart from Tier 2 cities.
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32% originate from Tier 3 towns and villages, indicating steady growth in non-metro markets alongside strong metro demand.
Festive Travel Momentum Continues
These insights collectively point to a sustained rise in festive mobility across Maharashtra and Goa, driven by cultural celebrations, family reunions, and increasing leisure travel during Holi.
As the festival continues to serve as an important occasion for families and friends to reconnect across regions, redBus remains committed to enabling seamless intercity connectivity. The platform continues to support travellers with convenient booking options, enhanced comfort choices, and extensive route coverage to ensure smooth and hassle-free festive journeys.