GSRTC to run 30,000 extra bus trips for Ambaji Bhadarvi Poonam Mela 2026
Synopsis
Gujarat's state bus corporation is scaling up its Bhadarvi Poonam Mela operations to 30,000 extra trips and 1,000 buses — up from 900 buses and 28,506 trips in 2025 — aiming to move 15 lakh pilgrims to and from the Ambaji shrine by 26 September. It is the largest such deployment for the festival on record.
Key Takeaways
GSRTC will operate 30,000 additional bus trips using 1,000 buses for the Bhadarvi Poonam Mela at Ambaji .
The services are expected to transport around 15 lakh pilgrims through 26 September 2026 .
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the special services on Monday .
Routes span four divisions: Palanpur , Mehsana , Himatnagar , and Ahmedabad .
A GPS-based Central Control Room is tracking buses in real time; 10 help booths have been set up at Ambaji.
In 2025 , 900 buses completed 28,506 trips and carried 13.09 lakh passengers — this year's scale is larger on every metric.
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) will deploy 1,000 buses to operate approximately 30,000 additional trips for the Bhadarvi Poonam Mela at Ambaji, with the expanded services expected to ferry around 15 lakh pilgrims through 26 September 2026. The special fleet is a step up from last year's operations, underscoring the festival's growing footfall.
Inauguration and Key Officials
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Monday formally inaugurated the additional services and flagged off the new buses at a ceremony attended by Minister of State for Transport Pravin Mali and Minister of State for Urban Development Darshana Vaghela. Principal Secretary of the Transport Department Hareet Shukla, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, and several MLAs — including Amit Thaker, Hasmukh Patel, Amul Bhatt, Kaushik Jain, and Dinesh Kushwaha — were also present.
Routes and Coverage
The special services will run through the Palanpur, Mehsana, Himatnagar, and Ahmedabad divisions, providing connectivity between Ambaji and key destinations such as Gabbar, Abu Road, Danta, Deesa, Palanpur, and Siddhpur. Additional routes will cover Mehsana, Visnagar, Becharaji, Vadnagar, Kheralu, Himatnagar, Idar, Khedbrahma, Ahmedabad, Shamlaji, and Bhiloda.
Pilgrim Facilities and Safety Measures
GSRTC has set up 10 dedicated booths at Ambaji, staffed by supervisors and booth in-charges to assist pilgrims. The Transport Department has also arranged temporary shelters, drinking water, and public toilets at the fairgrounds. For real-time fleet tracking, a GPS-based Central Control Room has been activated. Emergency support infrastructure — including cranes, mechanic teams, ambulances, and fire-fighting vehicles — has been deployed at depots. Mic announcements, hoardings, and banners with contact details of booth in-charges will guide visitors across the mela premises.
Larger Scale Than 2025
The 2025 Bhadarvi Poonam Mela saw around 900 buses complete 28,506 trips, transporting 13.09 lakh passengers. This year's deployment — 100 more buses and roughly 1,500 additional trips — reflects a notable increase in both capacity and anticipated demand, signalling steady growth in pilgrimage traffic to the Ambaji shrine.
Point of View
000 buses, and from 13.09 lakh to a targeted 15 lakh passengers — reflects both rising pilgrimage numbers and the political visibility that large religious gatherings command in Gujarat. Deploying a state-level Deputy CM to flag off buses is a statement of intent as much as logistics. The real metric to watch is whether the GPS-based control room and the additional booth infrastructure actually reduce wait times and overcrowding at the shrine, or whether expanded capacity is simply absorbed by proportionally larger crowds. Gujarat's road transport network has historically been strained during the Bhadarvi Poonam window, and last-mile connectivity beyond the main bus stops remains an unresolved gap.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many buses and trips has GSRTC arranged for Ambaji Bhadarvi Poonam Mela 2026?
GSRTC has arranged 1,000 buses to operate around 30,000 additional trips for the Bhadarvi Poonam Mela at Ambaji. The special services will run until 26 September 2026 and are expected to serve approximately 15 lakh pilgrims .
Which routes will the special GSRTC buses cover during the Ambaji Mela?
The buses will connect Ambaji to destinations including Gabbar, Abu Road, Danta, Deesa, Palanpur, Siddhpur, Mehsana, Visnagar, Becharaji, Vadnagar, Kheralu, Himatnagar, Idar, Khedbrahma, Ahmedabad, Shamlaji, and Bhiloda across four divisions.
What facilities have been arranged for pilgrims at the Ambaji Mela?
GSRTC has set up 10 help booths at Ambaji with supervisors and booth in-charges. The Transport Department has also provided temporary shelters, drinking water, and public toilets, while a GPS-based Central Control Room monitors buses in real time. Emergency support including ambulances and fire-fighting vehicles is on standby.
How does this year's Ambaji Mela transport compare to last year?
In 2025, around 900 buses completed 28,506 trips and carried 13.09 lakh passengers. This year, 1,000 buses are scheduled for 30,000 trips targeting 15 lakh pilgrims — marking an increase on every key metric.
Who inaugurated the special GSRTC services for Bhadarvi Poonam Mela 2026?
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the special bus services and flagged off the new fleet on Monday, in the presence of Minister of State for Transport Pravin Mali, Minister of State for Urban Development Darshana Vaghela, and other senior officials.
