MUMBAI: The state-of-the-art Chandrabhaga yatra bus station, featuring an impressive array of 34 platforms, is set to be inaugurated by chief minister Eknath Shinde at the sacred Shri Kshetra Pandharpur on the auspicious day of Ashadhi Ekadashi on Wednesday morning.
This groundbreaking project, the first of its kind undertaken by the state, will be accompanied by the opening of a traveller accommodation facility capable of housing up to a thousand pilgrims.Solapur guardian minister Chandrakant Dada Patil will also be present at the event.
Although Pandharpur already has a modern bus station operated by the corporation, it has proven insufficient in accommodating the large number of devotees during major pilgrimages such as Ashadhi and Kartiki. To address this issue, the ST Corporation has constructed the Chandrabhaga yatra bus station on its 11-hectare land, complete with 34 platforms, a spokesperson explained.
‘Furthermore, an adjoining traveller accommodation facility has been established to offer affordable lodging options for the daily pilgrims visiting Pandharpur.
This accommodation has the capacity to house approximately 1,000 pilgrims at a given time. Additionally, two well-equipped canteens have been constructed to cater to the needs of both ST employees and pilgrims,’ he added.
The entire project has been realized with an investment of Rs 33 crore.
The state-of-the-art bus station will serve as a hub for ST buses, which will be deployed across the state to ensure the smooth transportation of pilgrims arriving for the Ashadhi and Kartiki pilgrimages.