Pune division of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has reported impressive earnings of ₹77.4 lakh from the Bhimashankar pilgrimage during the Shravan period.

As one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Bhimashankar saw an overwhelming influx of devotees, especially on Mondays, which are considered particularly auspicious for darshan.

To meet this surge in demand, the Pune ST division operated extra buses from key locations, catering to a total of 4,15,500 passengers.

Devotees from across Maharashtra, including a significant number from North India, visited Bhimashankar.

Recognizing this, the Pune MSRTC division increased the number of buses from major depots such as Swargate, Shivajinagar, and Khed, ensuring seamless and timely transport for pilgrims.

This year, two key depots, Narayangaon and Rajgurunagar, deployed 40 additional buses to Bhimashankar.

An additional 163 buses were dispatched from other major hubs, including Swargate, Shivajinagar, Talegaon, Baramati, Indapur, and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Throughout the month of Shravan, a total of 9,883 extra bus trips were arranged, covering nearly 1,50,000 kilometers.

Passenger and Revenue Statistics for Shravan Mondays:

First Monday:

• 53,067 passengers

• ₹10.30 lakh revenue

Second Monday:

• 76,084 passengers

• ₹16.17 lakh revenue

Third Monday:

• 96,017 passengers

• ₹19.52 lakh revenue

Fourth Monday:

• 82,920 passengers

• ₹14.06 lakh revenue

Fifth Monday:

• 54,323 passengers

• ₹7.14 lakh revenue

In total, 385 buses were operated during the Shravan pilgrimage, with 9,883 trips covering 1,50,000 kilometers. This resulted in a total revenue of ₹77,40,595.

The significant turnout of pilgrims during Shravan has once again highlighted the importance of the Bhimashankar temple as a major religious destination.

The Maharashtra State Transport Corporation’s decision to run additional buses proved vital in accommodating the thousands of devotees making the journey.