Gondia and Tiroda depots earn Rs 1.38 crore from ST buses in eight days of Diwali

The State Road Transport Corporation has had a bumper Diwali. The two depots in Gondia district, Gondia and Tiroda, earned a total of Rs 1,37,94,945 in just eight days, from November 4 to 11.

Diwali is described as the festival of Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is believed to visit homes on her golden feet. Belief aside, Mahalakshmi appears to have been kind to the corporation this Diwali.

These are the only two depots of the corporation in the district. Gondia depot's share of the earnings was Rs 82,59,789, while Tiroda depot earned Rs 55,35,156. The figure includes fares for concessions given by the government.

Diwali is the biggest festival of Hindus, and everyone who has gone away for work returns home to celebrate it. For this reason, trains, buses, aeroplanes and private passenger vehicles are all full of travellers at this time. The crowds are so large that not only the railways but also the corporation has to arrange additional buses. This year too there was a rush of passengers, and the corporation's earnings came from it.

Diwali fell on Sunday, and Bhaubeej was observed on Wednesday. With that the festival has ended and the journey back for those who came from outside has begun. Many people set off on Wednesday itself after the aarti at their sister's home. Most will return to their workplaces at their convenience. This will swell the crowds further, and the corporation expects more money to come into its coffers.