GSRTC to run 2,400 extra buses for Diwali, 8,000+ trips from Nov 4-7
Synopsis
GSRTC is deploying 2,400 extra buses and more than 8,000 additional trips between November 4 and 7 to handle the Diwali travel surge — a measure that specifically targets the Surat-Saurashtra diamond-worker corridor, one of Gujarat's busiest festive-season routes.
Key Takeaways
GSRTC will operate 2,400 additional buses from 4 to 7 November to manage Diwali travel demand.
More than 8,000 extra trips are planned, primarily connecting Surat with Saurashtra and North Gujarat .
Diamond-industry workers from Bhavnagar , Amreli , Junagadh , and Rajkot settled in Surat are among the primary beneficiaries.
Seats can be booked via the GSRTC website , divisional offices, or depots; advance booking is recommended.
A 24/7 toll-free helpline — 1800 233 666666 — is available for passenger queries.
The arrangement is overseen by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi .
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) will deploy around 2,400 additional buses between 4 and 7 November to handle the anticipated Diwali travel surge, with over 8,000 extra trips planned to link Surat with Saurashtra, North Gujarat, and other destinations across the state. The special operations have been arranged under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and will supplement regular services for passengers travelling home for the festival.
Routes and Key Destinations
The additional buses will operate from Surat and other districts, with services fanning out to Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, Mehsana, Patan, and Palanpur. Passengers heading towards Panchmahal and North Gujarat will also find expanded connectivity. The services are expected to be of particular benefit to diamond-industry workers from Saurashtra — including those from Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, and Rajkot districts — who have settled in Surat and typically return home en masse during Diwali.
Why This Scale of Deployment
Diwali is among the highest-demand travel windows for public transport in Gujarat, when interdistrict passenger movement spikes sharply over a compressed four-day window. GSRTC's annual practice of scaling up during festivals and religious fairs reflects that pattern; the 4–7 November window covers the core travel days before and during the festival. By running additional trips on existing high-density corridors, the corporation aims to reduce overcrowding and ensure passengers can reach their hometowns safely.
Booking and Helpline Details
Passengers can reserve seats on the additional buses through the GSRTC official website, with both advance and current-date online booking available. Reservations can also be made at the corporation's divisional offices and depots across Gujarat. A round-the-clock toll-free helpline — 1800 233 666666 — has been activated for travel-related queries and assistance, according to officials.
What to Expect
The four-day special operations will see the full fleet of 2,400 extra buses complete more than 8,000 trips on the designated routes. Passengers are advised to book in advance given anticipated demand, particularly on the Surat-Saurashtra corridor, which is historically among the busiest routes during the festive season. The deployment is part of GSRTC's broader festival-traffic management framework, which is activated each year for major occasions.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the explicit targeting of Surat's diamond-worker community — an economically important migrant bloc that shuttles between Saurashtra and Surat in vast numbers every Diwali. State transport decisions around festival corridors are rarely politically neutral in Gujarat, and the attribution to Deputy CM Sanghavi signals that the government is keen to be seen as responsive to this constituency. The real test is whether last-mile connectivity at the Saurashtra end — often a gap in inter-district bus planning — is also addressed, or whether the extra capacity simply bunches at Surat's major depots.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many extra buses will GSRTC run for Diwali 2024?
GSRTC will operate around 2,400 additional buses between 4 and 7 November, completing more than 8,000 extra trips on routes connecting Surat with Saurashtra, North Gujarat, and other destinations across Gujarat.
Which routes will the extra GSRTC buses cover?
The additional services will cover Surat to Saurashtra destinations including Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, and Rajkot, as well as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mehsana, Patan, Palanpur, and Panchmahal.
How can passengers book seats on the GSRTC Diwali special buses?
Passengers can book through the GSRTC official website using both advance and current-date online booking. Reservations can also be made at GSRTC divisional offices and depots across Gujarat.
Is there a helpline for GSRTC Diwali bus queries?
Yes, GSRTC has activated a round-the-clock toll-free helpline at 1800 233 666666 for travel information and assistance related to the Diwali special services.
Why are extra buses specifically beneficial for Surat passengers?
Surat is home to a large population of diamond-industry workers who originally hail from Saurashtra districts such as Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, and Rajkot. These workers typically travel back to their hometowns in large numbers during Diwali, creating high demand on Surat-Saurashtra routes.
