Kanwar Yatra 2024: In response to the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation has announced changes to the bus routes operating between Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Delhi. Starting from Monday, the buses will now travel via the Yamunanagar-Karnal-Sonipat route, rather than the usual Roorkee-Muzaffarnagar-Meerut-Muradnagar route.

According to transport officials, the decision has been taken to accommodate the influx of Kanwar pilgrims. Buses originating from Haridwar and Rishikesh and heading to Delhi will first be diverted through the Bijnor route. However, if the crowds along this route increase, the buses from Rishikesh and Haridwar will also be rerouted via the Saharanpur Expressway and Yamunanagar.

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These buses will make a stop in Dehradun before continuing on the changed route. The increase in distance, which is now 317 km compared to the usual 258 km, will result in higher fares for passengers. The transport authorities are currently updating the e-ticket machines to reflect the fare changes.

Deepak Jain, the General Manager of Operations at the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, has instructed all the Assistant General Managers (AGMs) of the depots to operate buses solely on the routes altered by the police and administration for the Kanwar Yatra. This directive is effective from Sunday midnight, when the Roorkee-Muzaffarnagar-Meerut-Delhi route will be closed.

Bus Fare Hike Applicable To THESE Services

The fare hike will be applicable to various bus services, including Volvo, AC Janrath, and ordinary buses. The Volvo bus fare from Dehradun to Delhi is expected to increase from the current Rs 945 to Rs 1,025, a rise of Rs 80. Similarly, the AC Janrath bus fare may go up by Rs 65, while the ordinary bus fare could increase by Rs 55.

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The change in route will also result in longer travel times, with an additional one and a half to two hours required to reach the destination. This is due to the higher toll charges and the longer distance on the Saharanpur Expressway-Yamunanagar-Karnal route.

The route modification and fare hike will remain in effect until Shivratri, which falls on August 2 this year. Passengers travelling to destinations such as Gurugram, Jaipur, Faridabad, Alwar and Agra, along with Delhi, will also be affected by these changes.