GSRTC has deployed around 2,400 additional buses and operated more than 8,000 special trips across Gujarat to manage the heavy passenger rush during the Diwali and Gujarati New Year holidays, with Ahmedabad alone accounting for 1,800 extra trips since 2 November.
The additional services have been arranged alongside regular schedules to help passengers travelling from major urban centres to their hometowns during the festive period. Heavy crowds have been reported at central bus stations and depots in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, according to the report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation has placed particular emphasis on routes connecting cities with Saurashtra, Kutch and central and eastern Gujarat. The additional deployment is intended to accommodate the seasonal movement of workers, traders and families who travel from the state’s major economic centres during the holidays.
In Ahmedabad, the division has operated 1,800 extra trips since 2 November. The report said these services helped thousands of passengers reach their destinations without disruption. Ahmedabad is one of the state’s largest employment and commercial hubs, and the festive period typically produces a sharp increase in outbound travel by salaried workers and business families.
Surat has also received additional services for routes to major districts across Gujarat. The arrangements cover destinations in Saurashtra as well as Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, Mehsana, Patan and Palanpur. The deployment reflects the travel patterns of families associated with Surat’s diamond and textile sectors, many of whom return to their home districts for the festival.
GSRTC officials said the response is not limited to pre-planned schedules. Depot managers have been authorised to assess passenger crowds at individual bus stations and take immediate decisions on additional operations. If an unexpected queue develops on a particular route, an extra bus can be deployed on the spot rather than waiting for a fixed timetable adjustment.
This demand-based operating model places local depot management at the centre of the festive transport response. It allows the corporation to shift capacity towards routes where passenger pressure is visible in real time, while continuing regular services on the wider network. The report did not provide a route-wise breakdown of the 8,000-plus trips, the number of passengers carried or the total duration of the special operations.
The additional buses and trips will remain part of GSRTC’s festive travel arrangements as passenger demand continues across Gujarat’s major bus terminals and intercity corridors.
