Source : PTI | The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) on Monday flagged off new buses and launched special extra services for pilgrims visiting Ambaji for Bhadarvi Poonam Mela.
Around 1,000 buses will operate nearly 30,000 additional trips, benefiting about 15 lakh pilgrims, officials said.
Ambaji Temple, located in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, hosts Bhadarvi Poonam Mela every year in the Gujarati calendar month of Bhadarvo.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the services in the presence of Minister of State for Transport Pravin Mali and Minister of State for Urban Development Darshana Vaghela, an official release stated.
“Until September 26, the Palanpur, Mehsana, Himatnagar and Ahmedabad divisions will run special bus services for the Ambaji Mela. Around 1,000 buses will operate nearly 30,000 additional trips, benefiting about 15 lakh pilgrims. To assist pilgrims, 10 booths have been set up at Ambaji with supervisors and booth in-charges on duty,” the release said.
Frequent bus services will operate on major routes including Ambaji to Gabbar, Abu Road, Danta, Deesa, Palanpur and Siddhpur; Ambaji to Mehsana, Visnagar, Becharaji, Vadnagar and Kheralu; as well as Ambaji to Himatnagar, Idar, Khedbrahma, Ahmedabad, Shamlaji and Bhiloda, it added.
To ensure a smooth and convenient journey, the Transport Department has provided special facilities for pilgrims, including ST bus services, temporary shelters, drinking water, public toilets, mic announcements, booth in-charge contact numbers, and guidance through hoardings and banners, the release noted.
Cranes, mechanic teams, ambulances and fire-fighting vehicles have been deployed at the depots, while a GPS-based Central Control Room has been set up to monitor all buses in real time, the release said.
In 2025, around 900 buses operated 28,506 trips and served 13.09 lakh passengers, it said.
