Aurangabad, Nov 8:
The Shivneri bus service on Pune route is the highest revenue earning bus service in Aurangabad division of the MSRTC. But these buses have been sent to Thane. As a result, citizens are currently left with a single Shivneri bus.
The Aurangabad-Pune route is called the golden route for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) due to the revenue generated from the Shivneri bus service. A large number of people go to Pune for jobs and business. Every Saturday, Sunday, and on public holidays, the route remains crowded. Large number of passengers preferred to travel by Shivneri despite the high ticket prices. But the Covid-19 has changed the situation. The number of passengers on the Pune route has decreased. In all, 2 Shivneri buses running on Pune route have been transferred to Thane. Therefore, only one Shivneri bus is left for Aurangabad at present. Therefore, it has been decided to run 2 Shivneri tourist buses for Ellora and Ajanta Caves on the Pune route. However, once the tourist destinations start, those buses will be recalled. Therefore, only one bus will be available for Pune. Central bus stand depot manager S A Shinde said that at present there is only one Shivneri bus, while two tourist buses will be used for Pune till the caves are started.
Travelers prefer private buses
The air-conditioned, comfortable service of Shivneri buses was attracting upper class passengers to the state transport corporation, but due to the reduction in the number of Shivneri buses, these passengers are now turning to private buses.