Surat, October 16: With just days remaining for the festival of lights -- Diwali, the Surat State Transport Department has announced that it would ply 1,200 buses from Surat to various districts in Saurashtra from October 22 to October 27. Apart from this, the transport department has also announced to waive the 25 percent extra fare usually charged for the Diwali-special buses.

The recent development has arrived after the transport department anticipated heavy passenger load ahead of Diwali, which might exceed more than 8 lakh this year. Following this, the number of special buses has been increased by 200 times. Last year, over 1,000 extra buses had made tours to various destinations in Saurashtra from Surat. Diwali 2019: Ayodhya 'Deepotsav' to Have 5 Lakh Diyas This Year.

According to an estimate, as many as eight lakh migrant workers travel to Surat for as this is considered to an industry of diamond cutting and polishing, and textile trading. Since most of them belong from Saurashtra region, more buses have been provided by the transport department to help reach the people their homes during Diwali.

Among other things, the transport department has announced that it would ply 100 extra buses from Surat to various districts in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra during the five days. The state government has done away with 25 per cent extra fare usually charged for the Diwali-special buses.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 16, 2019 11:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).