Tourism stakeholders urged to wake up from deep slumber

Rafique Aziz

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (erstwhile Aurangabad), regarded as the tourism capital of Maharashtra and globally known for the world heritage Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, has been without an affordable tourist bus service for international and domestic visitors for the past six years. Despite the city’s prominence as a major heritage destination, tourism stakeholders, particularly the concerned government departments, have yet to take concrete steps to resume these services, leaving budget travellers and backpackers with limited and inconvenient transport options.

According to sources, the excursion bus service was earlier operated by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and later by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). For some period, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) also ran the service. The buses were considered one of the most convenient and popular modes of transport for tourists, especially foreign visitors. The fully air-conditioned buses were equipped with guide services and offered affordable fares, about Rs 650 per adult for Ajanta Caves and Rs 350 for Ellora Caves. The service was particularly in high demand during the tourist season, which typically begins in September. However, due to technical reasons, the service was discontinued shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Tourists visiting Ajanta Caves, located about 100 km from the city, have to depart early in the morning between 7 am and 8 am, while those travelling to Ellora Caves, about 28 km away, begin their journey around 9 am. At present, affluent international and domestic tourists usually hire private taxis, but budget travellers and backpackers are left scrambling for transport. They often have to catch MSRTC buses from the Central Bus Stand or Smart City buses (for Ellora Caves only) from the Railway Station. However, the experience at the bus stand is often far from welcoming. Bus timings for routes to Ajanta and Ellora are not displayed, and visitors frequently struggle to obtain proper guidance. Inquiry counter attendants often suggest catching buses heading towards Jalgaon or Burhanpur for Ajanta, while stating that buses for Ellora operate every half hour. They are not so welcoming. Tourism stakeholders say the lack of clear information and organised services creates inconvenience for visitors and risks damaging the city’s reputation as a major tourist destination,” elaborated the reliable sources.

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Jaswant Singh, President of the Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation (ATDF), confirmed that the excursion buses were extremely popular among both foreign and domestic tourists, particularly budget travellers and backpackers. “During the tourist season, bookings for these buses used to be made well in advance. Even visitors staying in four-star and five-star hotels preferred this service because of its convenience, including pick-up and drop facilities. Restarting these buses on priority will significantly boost tourism, increase tourist footfall and enhance the city’s reputation,” he said.

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India Tourism’s acting assistant director Snehal Patil said the issue would be brought to the notice of senior officials so that it can be taken up with the relevant departments. She noted that such bus services are the need of the hour for tourists, especially international visitors.

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Deputy Director (Tourism) Vijay Jadhav said that the buses were earlier operated by ITDC, later by MTDC, and subsequently by MSRTC. “We will take up the matter on priority and make efforts to restart the service at the earliest,” he said.