MSRTC plies 300 buses to Pandharpur

NASHIK: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has launched 300 additional buses from the Nashik division to Pandharpur on the occasion of the ongoing pilgrimage of the Pandharpur Yatra (Wari) during the Marathi month of Ashadh.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has launched in all 300 additional buses from Nashik Division to Pandharpur on the occasion of ongoing pilgrimage of Pandharpur Yatra (wari) during the Marathi-month of Ashadh.
The MSRTC makes this decision every year, to enable the Nashik residents to travel to Pandharpur to pay their obeisance to Lord Vitthal during the annual pilgrimage that happens in monsoon. There is an equally large numbers of pilgrims, who march (Dindi)
to Pandharpur from the various parts of the state. The Nivruttinath Maharaj Palkhi also leaves from Trimbakeshwar Nashik for the annual ritual and has been the practice for more than 700 years now.
An official said that the buses have been planned for the important days of the Yatra beginning from July 9 to July 12 and the 300 buses have been pooled in from all depots in the division to ensure that the pilgrims do not have to worry about the bus availability.
A maximum number of 40 buses allotted from a dedpot in Nashik and was followed by Malegaon depot arranging for 34 buses, from Satana 32 buses were arranged and 30 from Kalwan, among others.
The buses were planned from the depots and MSRTC bus stands as well depending upon the demands that can be registered with the respective depots through the controllers deputed at the stands and depots.
The MSRTC officer also said that buses will also be available on demand, if there were groups of 50 people travelling together. "This special arrangement will be made to pick up groups from their nearest depot, take them to Pandharpur and bring them back as per the advanse bookings. Buses will be arranged by the MSRTC," he said. The arrangement of the dedicated bus service will be in addition to the 300 buses being pooled in by the corporation from the various depots in the division.
The official pointed out that there were good numbers of pilgrims coming from Gujarat as well by road and taking buses from Nashik to Pandharpur, "There is a growing numbers of pilgrims from Surat, who come to Nashik and journey to Pandharpur," the officer added.