UPSRTC Gears Up for Ayodhya Rush: Maintains Fleet of 933 Buses

UPSRTC Gears Up for Ayodhya Rush: In anticipation of an expected surge in travelers to Ayodhya following the consecration of the Ram Temple, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) is maintaining its current fleet of 933 buses on the route. Capable of transporting 1 lakh inter-district passengers daily, the corporation is prepared for the increased demand with both round trips covered.

Flexible Fleet Expansion

While keeping the existing 933 buses in operation, the UPSRTC is ready to adapt to the situation. Ajit Singh, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for UPSRTC, stated, “If there is a need for more vehicles and if the number of passengers overshoots our estimation, we will add two more buses per depot. This would amount to approximately 200 more buses on top of the 933 already in operation.”

Special Arrangements and Amenities

To enhance the travel experience for passengers, the transport corporation has implemented special arrangements. Sound boxes playing Ram bhajans have been installed in buses, creating a spiritual ambiance. Additionally, help desks at toll plazas will be operational from January 16 onwards and will continue to provide assistance for at least a month.

Diverse Fleet for Varied Travel Needs

Out of the 933 buses, 336 travel directly to Ayodhya, while 597 pass through the holy city. Among the direct trips, 49 buses are air-conditioned, and 65 among those passing via Ayodhya offer air conditioning. Notably, the fleet includes 6 pink buses exclusively designated for women passengers.

Adapting to Potential Inter-State Travel

While no new buses have been added specifically for handling the Ayodhya rush, UPSRTC is prepared to make necessary adjustments. RK Tripathi, Lucknow regional manager for UPSRTC, emphasized, “Inter-state bus arrangements also have not been made and will be looked into should the need arise. If we see that lots of passengers are traveling to Ayodhya from outside UP, we will ensure that the regular inter-state buses traveling to UP make an additional stop at Ayodhya.”

As of now, out-of-state buses coming into UP are from Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Nepal.