Mumbai, Sep 10 (PTI) The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on Thursday started operating special buses to ferry devotees from Mumbai and neighbouring areas to their hometowns in Konkan and other parts for Ganpati festival, officials said.
A total of 5,743 services are scheduled for departure between September 10 and 13, they added. The festival will begin from September 14.
As many as 199 Ganpati special buses will depart on Thursday from major bus stations in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar divisions, with the maximum number of services scheduled on September 11 and 12, the MSRTC official added.
The highest, 3,028 special bus services, will depart on Friday, followed by 2,425 on Saturday and 91 on Sunday, he said.
Of the 5,743 services, 2,951 will depart from Thane, the highest among the divisions, followed by 1,917 from Mumbai, 564 from Palghar, 275 from Ratnagiri and 36 from Raigad.
On Friday, 1,670 special buses are scheduled to leave from Thane, followed by 1,105 from Mumbai and 225 from Palghar. On Saturday, 1,211 buses will depart from Thane, 608 from Mumbai and 330 from Palghar, the official said.
Of the total services scheduled during the four-day period, 4,863 are ordinary buses and 880 are ordinary ‘Jijau’ buses, which have a 3×2 seating arrangement.
Earlier, the MSRTC had announced to operate 5,220 additional buses for the Ganpati festival between September 7 and 25, particularly on routes connecting Mumbai, Thane and Palghar with Konkan and other parts of Maharashtra.
The MSRTC has also provided a group booking facility for a minimum of 40 passengers. Women and senior citizens are eligible for a 50 per cent fare concession under the facility, while Amrut senior citizens are entitled to a 100 per cent fare concession.
The corporation has deployed staff and senior officials at major bus stations and bus stops to ensure smooth operations during the festival rush. Vehicle repair teams will also be stationed at strategic locations along major Konkan highways to attend to breakdowns, officials said.
Ganesh Chaturthi, marking the arrival of Lord Ganesha, will be celebrated on September 14, while the festival will conclude on Anant Chaturdashi on September 25. The festival is celebrated with great fervour across Maharashtra and holds a special place in the cultural life of the Konkan region.
Thousands of people travel to their native places in Konkan to celebrate Ganpati with their families. PTI KK BNM
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