684 MSRTC Buses Reserved In Thane For Ganesh Chaturthi

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has reserved 684 buses in Thane to facilitate travel for devotees heading to their native villages in Konkan for Ganesh Chaturthi.

The buses have been reserved across eight key depots in the district, including Thane Central, Thane 1, and Bhiwandi. Out of the total, 370 are group bookings and 314 are fully reserved buses.

MSRTC officials have noted that demand remains strong, although it is down from last year's total of 2,302 group bookings and 369 individual online bookings from Thane.

With one week remaining before Ganeshotsav, the total number of group bookings is expected to rise further. Private luxury operators are also seeing equal demand, with comfortable air-conditioned sleeper buses fully booked two months in advance at fares ranging between ₹2,000 and ₹2,500.

However, high demand has also led to safety concerns regarding unauthorized operators. Several unorganized school buses are reportedly transporting commuters under cramped, unsafe conditions to exploit the rush.

Addressing safety concerns, a representative from Krishna Travels clarified that they strictly avoid taking bookings for unauthorized or makeshift vehicles like school buses. They only book buses from their network of 700 partner companies and do not accept group bookings for political parties.

The rush hour has officially begun for thousands of Konkan natives living across Thane, Mumbai, and Palghar, with a long weekend lined up starting Friday afternoon. Devotees are flocking to secure any available transport to reach their native villages in Konkan.

Group bookings for up to 40 passengers opened a month and a half in advance, while individual online and offline bookings commenced two months prior.

The MSRTC has geared up its fleet to facilitate seamless travel for working professionals.

Ganesh Chaturthi is set to begin on Monday, September 14, and the state is preparing to welcome Lord Ganesha.

The festival is a significant event in the state, with thousands of devotees traveling to their native villages to celebrate.

The MSRTC's efforts to provide adequate transportation facilities will help ensure a smooth and safe journey for the devotees.

In conclusion, the reservation of 684 MSRTC buses in Thane is a significant step towards facilitating travel for devotees heading to their native villages in Konkan for Ganesh Chaturthi.

The festival is a time for celebration and worship, and the MSRTC's efforts will help ensure that devotees can reach their destinations safely and comfortably.