
Gujarat: Over 8 lakh passengers benefited from 2,780 additional buses by GSRTC during summer vacation 2025
The
Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation
(
GSRTC
) operated additional bus services during the summer vacation. From May 1 to May 31, 2025, over 8 lakh passengers benefited from this initiative, according to a release issued by the state government.
According to the officials, to improve passenger convenience during the summer vacation, the ST Corporation operated over 1,400 extra express buses daily, connecting key cities across Gujarat.
This included nearly 500 trips from Surat to Saurashtra, around 210 from Saurashtra to North Gujarat, approximately 300 from South Gujarat to North Gujarat, and 300 to various destinations within Saurashtra.
Additionally, interstate services saw increased passenger traffic on routes between Gujarat and neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
The GSRTC ensured convenient travel to religious and tourist destinations through well-planned services from Ahmedabad. This included 10 daily trips to Ambaji, Somnath, and Dwarka, and five daily trips to Dakor, Pavagadh, and Girnar. For tourist spots like the Statue of Unity, Sasan Gir, and Saputara, five trips were operated daily, while 10 daily services were run to Diu and Kutch.
For interstate travel, two daily trips from Ahmedabad connected passengers to Mount Abu and Sundha Mata in Rajasthan, and two trips from Geeta Mandir served Maharashtra destinations like Shirdi, Nashik, and Dhulia.
Between May 1 and May 31, 2025, GSRTC operated 2,780 additional buses, completing 16,438 extra trips and serving 8.22 lakh passengers. The same period in 2024 saw 1,988 extra buses, 11,674 trips, and 5.84 lakh passengers. This marks a year-on-year increase of 2.38 lakh passengers availing ST Corporation's summer vacation services.
To ensure passenger convenience, ST Corporation conducted 16,438 trips between May 1 and May 31, 2025, covering 15.61 lakh kilometres and generating Rs3.78 crore in revenue. In comparison, May 2024 saw 11,674 trips and Rs2.94 crore in earnings. These figures highlight the state government's commitment to strong leadership and quality public transport infrastructure.
"Gujarat's robust public transportation system, accessible to both urban and rural citizens, reflects the visionary leadership of former Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Guided by the Prime Minister and led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government continues to advance transformative reforms in the road transport sector to enhance passenger convenience," said an official release.
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Hans India
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Hans India
14 hours ago
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MyVoice: Views of our readers 8th June 2025
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For decades, Kashmir grappled with geographical barriers, but now the rail network has embraced it. The once risky, exhausting, and unsafe road journey has been transformed into a swift, modern ride on trains like Vande Bharat, covering the distance in under 10 hours. The journey from Katra to Srinagar via Banihal will not only save time and effort but also usher in a new dawn for tourists and locals alike. IRCTC's world-class facilities—convenient ticket booking, modern coaches, and delicious catering—will make this journey a memorable experience. In the Prime Minister's words, this bridge is not just a structure of steel but a bridge of hearts, erasing the shadows of terror and spreading rays of peace and prosperity. Following the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Modi government's resolute and courageous response sent a clear message: Pakistan's attempts to spread fear will fail, and India no longer merely endures—it forges the path to victory. This rail network is set to become the foundation of an economic revolution. Kashmir's red apples, handicrafts, and traditional products will now reach major markets across the country at lower costs and in less time, bringing prosperity to local traders and opening new employment opportunities for the youth. This transformation will elevate Kashmir's economy to new heights, bringing prosperity to every household. For tourism, this connectivity marks the beginning of a golden era. People from every corner of India can now step directly into Kashmir's enchanting valleys by train—where the chinar trees blooming in the lap of the Himalayas, the serenity of Dal Lake, and the beauty of Shalimar Bagh will be visible from the train's window. Travelers who once hesitated due to arduous journeys will now find wings for their dreams, and Kashmir will emerge as a global tourism hub—all made possible by the Modi government's steadfast resolve and technological advancements. This railway is not just a network of tracks but an unparalleled saga of unity, trust, and progress. Kashmir, once seemingly disconnected from the mainstream, is now becoming its beating heart. The sound of the tracks, the whistle of the train, and the winds of the valley carry the call of this new creation, propelling India toward the role of a global leader. This project will not only enrich Kashmir but also strengthen the nation's unity and integrity. The Modi government's monumental achievement has given Kashmir a new identity—one that pierces the darkness of terror to spread the light of development. As the train races through Kashmir's valleys, it will not merely be a train but a symbol of every dream that seeks to reach from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to every village in the valley. This is a journey that touches hearts, brings tears of hope to eyes, and fills India's soul with pride. The Modi government's extraordinary triumph has shown Kashmir the path to prosperity, and this railway will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come—an inspiration that will echo as long as the Himalayas stand and Kashmir's valleys remain lush and green. This is the song of India's victory, one that will reside in every heart and inspire every soul. Prof RK Jain 'Arijeet',Barwani (MP) India's global influence waning India's diplomatic isolation represents a failure of its foreign policy. The all-party delegations that visited various foreign countries received only a lukewarm reception. They could not even get an audience with the most influential figures from those countries in the international arena. There is nothing substantial that India has gained from the diplomatic outreach. Even brilliant parliamentarians like Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid could not make any difference. The international community's disinclination to delink the India-Kashmir conflict from the Kashmir issue seems to be the major problem that even its rigorous diplomacy finds hard to surmount. No matter what the BJP and the Modi government say for domestic consumption, even the all-weather friend Russia has seconded US President Donald Trump's claim of mediation for an end to military operations. At the same time, Pakistan seems to have succeeded in winning over the international community and multilateral financial agencies. It has managed to become the vice-chair of a UN panel on terrorism and avail loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. By fulfilling the legitimate political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and devolving more power to them, India can hope to demonstrate that Jammu and Kashmir is its integral part and change the global perception of it and win international support. G David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu Suffocated academics The United States government's plans to cut economic support to universities is quite disheartening. American Universities have been a lighthouse for the world and this nation has also attracted talent from everywhere. Renowned Nobel Laureates have been given in every field. The politicians of the world must abstain from playing with the educational institutions and universities in their bid to destroy the academics and scholastic pursuits thoughtlessly. Instead of curtailing economic support by the US government, it should find ways to correlate with the alumni of these universities as well as other universities and governments for collaborative strengthening of educational pursuits. It must be understood by all the nations' politicians that disturbed teachers and students due to lack of funding support in research will do no good either to the polity or economy of the country they govern. 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Let the government continue to deal in English and Hindi as has been the practice. S Sankaranarayanan, Chennai Does Modi believe in 'I' over 'We'? The construction of the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river makes every Indian swell with pride. It was a massive engineering feat, requiring the expertise of over 1,300 engineers, technicians, and workers. Civil engineers, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, welders and technicians, and all manner of other professionals were needed to complete this engineering marvel. Yet, Modi's image walking all alone by himself with India's national flag had "I" rather than "We" written all over it. Only an Everester can claim such bragging rights, as the achievement is singularly his. In the case of the Chenab bridge, it is just a happy coincidence that this engineering marvel has been completed under Modi's watch. 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We have failed to bring enlightenment to society's mindset. When cricket, a wonderful sport, was turned into gambling, we failed to raise awareness against it. We are unable to stop the youth from indulging in such madness because we, too, are helpless. Therefore, we are also the fifth accused. In IPL, the game of cricket is not a winner and the madness comes in the open. C.K. Suresh, Ghaziabad Locked out, beaten down: Human rights violated at KSCA Stadium Thousands of RCB fans injured and traumatised after stadium gates were shut and police resorted to lathi charge despite sparse crowd inside. What began as a day of enthusiasm and hope for thousands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans turned into a harrowing example of institutional mismanagement, negligence, and a disturbing case of human rights violations at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Stadium. On Wednesday, June 4, throngs of cricket fans—many of them students and young adults—arrived at the stadium, eager to witness their beloved RCB team in flesh and blood. But instead of cheers and cricket, they were met with locked gates, baton-wielding police, and chaos that left at least 40 persons injured, many with lacerations, bruises, and trauma. This was not a stampede born of unruliness. It was the outcome of preventable administrative failure and state-enabled violence—both of which demand scrutiny under the lens of human rights law. At the core of the fiasco lies a critical breach of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. This fundamental right, interpreted over the decades to include the right to safety and dignity, was blatantly disregarded by KSCA authorities and law enforcement officials. Senior human rights activists and advocates point out that this was a case of grave violation of personal liberty and Human rights put together. State based human rights association are now examining at the high court level to go in for a case for human rights violations against the KSCA. Despite widespread ticketing and crowd anticipation, KSCA inexplicably shut the stadium gates, leaving thousands stranded in tightly packed, suffocating conditions. Eyewitnesses confirmed that less than a quarter of the stadium was filled at the time, raising serious questions about intent, transparency, and competence. The predictable outcome was a human crush. When the gates were eventually opened—far too late and without any control mechanisms—the desperate crowd surged forward. Instead of orderly entry, fans were met with gates slammed shut in their faces, resulting in dozens of injuries. These actions are not merely logistical lapses; they represent culpable negligence. Any reasonable authority could have anticipated the danger of locking large crowds outside an underfilled venue. In failing to take even minimal precautions, the KSCA and its partners compromised the safety of citizens—a violation that must be investigated under relevant public safety and human rights frameworks. As if the chaos outside the stadium gates were not traumatic enough, the police response escalated the situation into an outright assault on civil liberties. With fans pushed against barricades, police resorted to a lathi charge to control the crowd. But video and first-hand accounts indicate that the violence was indiscriminate, directed even at those trying to de-escalate or retreat. This use of force—especially on unarmed, peaceful fans including minors—is in direct violation of international human rights standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which state that force must be used only when strictly necessary and in proportion to the threat posed. In this case, the threat was manufactured by institutional mismanagement. The police were not responding to violence—they were reacting to a crowd denied access and dignity. Their role should have been to protect citizens, not to punish them for institutional failures. These are not rhetorical questions. They demand formal investigation and public accountability, not just from the KSCA but also from local police leadership and civic authorities responsible for event coordination. It is alarming that, as of now, no one has stepped forward to accept responsibility, nor have any apologies been issued to the injured fans or their families. 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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
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