Chaitali Joshi
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
With examinations finally over, families across Marathwada are gearing up for summer vacations. Whether visiting native places or heading out on holiday trips, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is bracing for a sharp surge in passenger traffic.
To handle the expected rush, MSRTC Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has introduced 31 new buses on high-demand routes. The additional services will strengthen connectivity to Akola, Pune, Jalgaon, Malegaon, Majalgaon, Dhule, Washim, Mehkar, Malkapur, Solapur, Paithan, Nashik, Sillod, Shrirampur, and Vaijapur and other cities.
Strong demand for online booking
Travel data shows that 10,000 to 12,000 passengers are making online bookings daily, with the Pune route recording the highest demand. As per weekly trends, footfall peaks on Mondays and weekends, while Wednesday and Thursday see comparatively lower traffic.
The district is currently witnessing a daily footfall of 1 lakh to 1.2 lakh passengers. With exam-related travel winding down, officials expect a significant increase in passenger numbers after April 20.
NCMC cards gaining traction
The rollout of ‘RuPay On-The-Go’ National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) is progressing steadily. So far, 35,000 to 40,000 registrations have been recorded statewide, out of which 6,000 cards have been dispatched to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
To ensure smooth distribution, 28 agents are actively working across the district, including 12 key locations in the city such as Cidco bus stand, Jawahar Colony, Harsul Corner, Hudco, Nakshatrawadi, CBS, and others. Officials clarified that the NCMC system is not yet mandatory as the distribution process is still underway and it will be made mandatory only after 80% of the concessional passengers will get the cards.
Convenient online booking encouraged
Divisional controller Pramod Nehul appealed to passengers to use the online booking platform, where the entire MSRTC fleet is now available.
“Booking online is highly convenient, allowing passengers to reserve tickets up to half an hour before departure, ensuring a seamless travel experience. We are also committed to further enhancing this service, with real-time online tracking features set to be launched very soon,” said Nehul.
(ai photo)