Surat: The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation’s (GSRTC) Surat zone has set a new revenue record this Diwali season through the operation of additional buses. Officials reported that it facilitated the transportation of nearly 1 lakh passengers, resulting in a collection of Rs 3.42 crore, marking an increase from Rs 3.17 crore the previous year.

Acknowledging the substantial number of passengers journeying from Surat to their hometowns during the Diwali holidays, the state government deployed extra buses to 14 different destinations in Saurashtra, north Gujarat, and central Gujarat from November 7 to 11.

According to sources within the GSRTC Surat region, a total of 1,737 trips were conducted from Surat to these 14 destinations, covering a distance of over 6.74 lakh kilometers and accommodating more than 96,400 passengers. These destinations included Amreli, Savarkundla, Mahuva, Bhavnagar, Gadiyadhar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Jhalod, Dahod, Lunawada, Una, Chhota Udaipur, and Bariya.

The highest revenue was generated on the route from Surat to Jhalod, with 68 trips transporting 4,284 passengers, resulting in a total revenue of Rs 13.28 lakh. Moreover, 84 trips carrying 16,577 people generated Rs 17.18 lakh under the group booking category.

Pankaj Gurjar, Surat Divisional Controller of GSRTC, elaborated, “Additional buses for Saurashtra and North Gujarat were operated from Jivraj Dharukawala College ground in Varachha, while buses heading to central Gujarat destinations like Dahod and Panchmahal were operated from Surat central bus stop near Surat railway station.”

In recent developments, Minister of Home and Transport Harsh Sanghavi had appealed to private bus operators not to increase travel fares during the festive season, warning of strict consequences. On Monday, Sanghavi, along with GSRTC Managing Director M A Gandhi and Surat Divisional Controller Pankaj Gurjar, participated in an event to honor the drivers, conductors, and staff.