For the first time in decades, residents of 15 interior villages in Gadchiroli district now have access to a state transport bus service, marking a milestone in rural connectivity. The service, flagged off shortly after Independence Day, has been hailed by villagers as a symbol of inclusion, ending years of isolation where long walks to tehsil and district centres were the only option.
The new bus line covers the Gadchiroli–Chatgaon–Dhanora–Yerkad–Murumgaon–Khedegaon–Ambezari–Mangewada–Jaisingtola–Malewada stretch, directly benefitting thousands of villagers. The move, facilitated through coordination between the district police and the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation (MSRTC), is expected to ease access to schools, hospitals, and markets, improving both livelihoods and quality of life.
Officials described the launch as more than a transport link, noting its symbolic value in an area historically marked by limited mobility and Maoist influence. With insurgency waning in northern parts of the district over recent years, confidence among residents has grown, enabling them to voice civic demands that were once suppressed. Connectivity is now being seen as a tool for social stability and development.
The police administration emphasised that transport services in such regions do not stand alone but are part of a larger effort to bridge developmental gaps. Roads and bridges, once stalled due to security concerns, are gradually being completed under protection. Over the past few years, more than 500 mobile towers, 420 kilometres of roads, and 60 bridges have been constructed with security cover, ensuring a supportive ecosystem for essential services. Community response has been one of celebration. The arrival of the first bus in Ambezari was marked by traditional drums, dancing, and children waving national flags. Residents expressed that the service symbolises not only convenience but dignity, as they now have a reliable, affordable, and daily means of mobility.
Experts suggest that such transport initiatives in remote tribal belts can reduce migration pressures, improve access to state welfare schemes, and integrate marginalised populations into the mainstream economy. Improved accessibility also aligns with sustainable development goals by cutting dependence on private vehicles, lowering travel costs, and enhancing the “ease of living” in rural India. While challenges of road maintenance and service regularity remain, the introduction of this bus route has rekindled optimism. For villagers long cut off from the outside world, public transport has finally arrived as a harbinger of both mobility and hope.
