UTC diverts Delhi route for buses due to Kanwad Yatra, journey increases by two hours

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) has changed the Delhi route for its buses due to the ongoing Kanwad Yatra which will take about two hours extra to reach the destination. Buses from Dehradun to Delhi are now operating via Saharanpur Expressway through Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat. This diversion has increased the travel distance to Dehli by 59 kilometres. However, UTC has made only a minor fare adjustment, with Rs one increase in Volvo bus fares and Rs 10 in ordinary bus fares.

The journey will now take approximately one and a half to two hours more, as per the officials. With the commencement of Kanwad Yatra on July 11, earlier UTC buses were being diverted via Saharanpur, Shamli and Baghpat instead of the regular Dehradun-Roorkee-Muzaffarnagar-Meerut route. With the increasing footfall of Kanwad pilgrims in the past six days, that route was also closed on Wednesday morning.

As a result, UTC began sending buses through the Karnal route which is taking about two hours extra to reach the destination. However, the officials said that the UTC has not increased fares as it did not want to add any more inconvenience to passengers. They said that all roadways buses will return to their usual route and fares after the completion of Kanwad Yatra in two weeks.