Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) has announced a special religious bus tour for the Shravan month, welcoming citizens to visit various temples around the city. This initiative aims to facilitate group visits to temples, allowing devotees to experience their faith together.
The bus bookings are available at four terminals: Lal Darwaja, Sarangpur, Vadaj, and Maninagar. However, due to parking issues at the Trimandir in Adalaj, this temple has been excluded from the tour. Throughout the day, participants can visit between eight to ten temples, with the bus picking them up from their homes and dropping them back after the tour.
Dharamsinh Desai, the chairman of the AMTS committee, stated that every year during the Shravan month, many people visit different deities in the city. The AMTS religious bus tour offers a convenient way for citizens to make these visits in groups.
The bus service will operate with 80 buses allocated specifically for this purpose, ensuring that regular bus services are not disrupted. Each bus can typically carry 30 passengers, but in practice, it can accommodate up to 40 people. This year, passengers from within Ahmedabad will need to pay ₹3,000 per bus, while those from the outskirts will pay ₹5,000. A property tax bill and proof of payment will also need to be submitted for booking.
The buses will start their journeys at 8:15 AM, visiting the designated temples and returning by 4:45 PM. Last year, during the Shravan month, AMTS operated over 1,000 buses, serving nearly 100,000 devotees who visited various religious sites. Many citizens praised the AMTS initiative, and officials encourage more people to take advantage of this service in the coming year.
As the holy month of Shravan begins, devotees are expected to flock to Shiva temples for blessings. AMTS aims to make these visits easier and more affordable. The ticket prices for regular bus service have been reduced to encourage participation, with adults now paying ₹60 and children ₹30, down from previous rates. Additionally, for Raksha Bandhan, women can travel for just ₹10, while children’s tickets will cost only ₹5.
Overall, this religious bus tour provides a unique opportunity for Ahmedabad’s residents to engage with their spiritual traditions while enjoying a convenient and cost-effective means of transportation. The AMTS initiative reflects a commitment to serving the community during this auspicious time, and hopes to see increased participation this year compared to previous years.