Private buses cash in on Diwali rush, hike fares

Most private luxury buses plying from New Delhi to various destinations in Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla and Dharamsala, have significantly increased their fares ahead of Diwali. Commuters are being forced to pay more than double the normal fare. On the Delhi-Shimla route, for instance, the fare has been increased from around Rs 600 to Rs 1,500. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), meanwhile, is charging regular fares despite a huge spike in the number of commuters travelling home for the festival.