Pavagadh Restricts Private Vehicle Entry on Sundays for 2 Months Amid Pilgrim Rush

Godhra: Special traffic regulations will be enforced at the Pavagadh pilgrimage site on Sundays for the next two months to manage the heavy influx of devotees and prevent traffic congestion. Additional District Magistrate J. J. Patel has issued a public notification outlining restrictions on vehicle movement and parking.

Under the new rules, only Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses, government vehicles and taxis permanently registered in Pavagadh village will be allowed to travel from the foothills (Taleti) to Machi.

The entry of private heavy and light vehicles will depend on the availability of parking space at Machi. A maximum of 45 tokens will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the parking area is full, no additional private vehicles will be allowed to proceed uphill from the foothills.

Private heavy vehicles will also be prohibited from approaching Pavagadh via the Halol-Timbi junction, Jepura crossroads, Vadatalav crossroads, Dhinkva crossroads and Dhankuva crossroads.

The notification also prohibits transporting goods or materials using animals and leading animals along the road between Machi and Dudhiya Talav. Vehicles carrying essential commodities and GSRTC buses are exempt from these restrictions. Government-duty vehicles and ambulances are also exempt.

The administration has directed private parking operators not to charge rates exceeding those prescribed by the Pavagadh Development Authority. Landowners using agricultural land for private parking must obtain the required prior permission.

The measures aim to ensure smoother traffic movement and better management of visitors at the popular pilgrimage destination during the Sunday rush. DeshGujarat