With Ganeshotsav just around the corner, the demand for transportation to the Konkan region is at its peak. However, over 500 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses have been requisitioned for a government event, raising concerns about the availability of services during the festive season. The state government has requested more than 500 ST buses for a significant women’s meeting in Warnanagar, Kolhapur, scheduled for Monday, September 2. The event will be attended by President Droupadi Murmu, with approximately 50,000 women expected to participate. This large-scale event has led to the diversion of buses from the Kolhapur and Sangli regions, causing potential inconvenience to regular commuters.
MSRTC has been instructed to provide 228 large-capacity buses, each with 44 seats, to transport attendees to the meeting venue. The diversion of these buses is likely to impact public transport, especially for school children and daily commuters in Kolhapur and Sangli. Many passengers may have to rely on private transport, leading to additional expenses and logistical challenges on the first working day of the week. The timing of this requisition has raised concerns, as the Ganeshotsav festival, a major event in Maharashtra, is fast approaching. The demand for transportation to the Konkan region, where the festival is widely celebrated, is already high. Srirang Barge, General Secretary of ST Karmakar Congress, highlighted that the diversion of buses for the government event could disrupt the transportation plans for thousands of devotees traveling to the Konkan region for the festival.
According to internal circulars, MSRTC depots have been instructed to ensure that the buses provided for the event are in good condition, clean, and equipped with necessary documentation. Special care is being taken to avoid any breakdowns en route, and drivers have been directed to adhere to strict parking instructions at the event venue. As the government continues to support the ST Corporation financially, the diversion of these buses for political events instead of public service has sparked criticism from various quarters. The situation underscores the ongoing tension between government obligations and public service delivery, particularly during crucial periods like Ganeshotsav.
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