Across websites and forums, I have come across this common query of how to travel between Mumbai and Pune / Pune and Mumbai, on a Volvo B7R bus.
Here is a lowdown.
1. Mumbai to Pune
Experience says that the best bet is to take a Shivneri Volvo, run by MSRTC. These start from Dadar. Just ask the cab driver to drop you at the Asiad bus stand. The Shivneri Volvos (they also have Cerita buses, which are based on Kinglong buses from China) run from 5:30am to 11:30pm at night. The frequency is generally 30min.
You will have to stand in a small queue to book the ticket for current buses. You can also fill a small form and book you ticket in advance. The fare is Rs 220 and usually you get a small mineral water bottle along with a newspaper too.
The fare might be 20-40 bucks more than other buses like Neeta and Metro Link, but the money spent is worth it. Stops are fewer, buses are better maintained and you usually reach Pune station in less than 4 hours, sometimes even 3.5 hours - this is one to one and a half hours less than other Volvo operators.
Buses generally run full from Dadar itself. So, if you stay in Chembur / New Mumbai areas, then you have no option but to take Neeta / Metro Link ones. But, if you can reach the Vashi Volvo bus point, then in evenings, if you are lucky, you can get a seat in one of the long distance Volvos which run to Bangalore / Hyderabad. They have some reservations from Pune and hence the seats are empty. These include operators like Sharma / KSRTC / VRL etc
2. Pune to Mumbai
Again the best bet is to hit the bus stand next to Pune station and take a Shivneri. Stay away from Neeta / Metro Link services. But if you stay in places like Aundh / Wakad / Kothrud, then you have no option but to take the private operators. All the best!!
Related Reading:
Metro Link Experience
Neeta Experience
UPDATE : ONLINE BOOKING NOW OPEN. SEE THIS
3 comments:
Good help. I travel to Mumbai next week from Holland. I visit friend in Pune and then Goa. I take Shivneri bus to Pune. How do I go to Goa?
Thanks again
Hi this is good information. I used to travel Pune - Mumbai back in the Volvo buses for abt 2 years. Now there is a option that one can book a ticket in advance and tell the operator at the counter where you will be boarding the bus. Like I used to board the bus at Wakad Phata and while booking if you tell the operator of that it is always helpful and he notes it down. Also to be on the safer side if you call at the Pune station before the bus starts just to confirm that you are boarding the bus it helps. This saves a lot of time and also traveling the Neeta and other private buses. Yes they are really horrible and shabby. Shivneri is the best.
Only on the way back from Mumbai to Pune still i was not able to make any advance booking from Vashi. I used to get the Shivaneri only if it was empty from Dadar other wise bad luck.
travelling is really not a problem in these buses, but only problem is booking of tickets, since one cant book the ticket on net.....
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