Ahmedabad’s Diwali bus rush created severe crowding at the Gita Mandir State Transport depot on November 7, with thousands of passengers waiting for buses to return to their native towns and villages for the festival holidays. Long queues, overcrowded platforms and difficulty finding seats were reported from the city’s main intercity bus terminal.
The rush began early in the morning as workers, traders, young employees and families reached the depot with luggage before travelling to their hometowns for Diwali. The large number of passengers left the terminal packed with people, while several routes reportedly faced demand well beyond the available seating capacity.
Passengers waiting at the depot faced long queues and extended waits for buses. The report said that scenes of pushing and crowding were visible as travellers attempted to board arriving buses and secure seats. The congestion also created an atmosphere of disorder within the depot, with passengers waiting for extended periods despite the availability of additional services.
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation had arranged extra buses to manage the sudden increase in festival-season demand. However, the additional services were not sufficient to meet the number of passengers on several routes, according to the report. Travellers who had waited for long periods without finding seats expressed concern about reaching their destinations during the holiday period.
The situation highlights the sharp seasonal pressure placed on Ahmedabad’s public transport network when large numbers of residents leave the city at the same time. The Gita Mandir depot functions as a key departure point for passengers travelling from Ahmedabad to towns and villages across Gujarat, making it a major concentration point during festival holidays.
Passengers and local representatives have asked the transport authorities to deploy more State Transport buses for people leaving the city. Their demand is aimed at reducing waiting times and ensuring that travellers can reach their native places without facing further inconvenience during the Diwali period.
The transport corporation’s next step, as sought by passengers and representatives, is to assess demand on the affected routes and provide additional buses wherever required during the continuing festival rush.
