Panvel ST Depot will operate additional buses for passengers travelling to Konkan and parts of western Maharashtra for Ganeshotsav, with services scheduled to begin on September 11, according to a report by Loksatta – Navi Mumbai. The depot has also received group reservations for 30 buses, as demand rises ahead of the festival.
The additional services are being planned for passengers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and nearby areas who travel to their hometowns during the festival period. Panvel is a major departure point for residents of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Dombivli, Kalyan and Nalasopara travelling towards Konkan.
According to the report, six additional buses will operate on September 11, followed by 23 buses on September 12 and one bus on September 13. The depot will also operate nine reserved buses for passengers travelling during the period.
Separately, 112 free buses have been arranged for Ganesh devotees from Navi Mumbai by the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde. These buses are scheduled to leave on September 11 from Airoli, Koparkhairane, Vashi, Nerul and CBD Belapur. Destinations include Konkan, Kolhapur and other parts of western Maharashtra.
Manoj Haldankar, a corporator and group leader, said that 8,400 passengers had registered for the free bus service, according to the report. The arrangements are intended to accommodate the seasonal increase in passenger demand as residents travel from the Mumbai metropolitan region for Ganeshotsav.
The additional Panvel depot services are scheduled to begin on September 11, with the reported operating plan covering the three-day period from September 11 to September 13.
