Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved an increase in the dearness allowance (DA) for Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) employees, revising it from 53 to 55 per cent.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Minister of State for Transport Harsh Sanghavi.
Along with the hike, the government has also cleared the release of all pending arrears, a move that will provide financial relief of more than Rs 30 crore to employees.
Commenting on the decision, Sanghavi said, &ldquo;The welfare of GSRTC staff is a priority. This step will not only update their DA but also ensure they receive their dues in full.&rdquo;
Officials added that a detailed circular will soon be issued outlining the schedule and procedure for disbursement.
Preparations for Ambaji Fair
Ahead of the Bhadarvi Poonam Fair at Ambaji, GSRTC will introduce a significant additional fleet to accommodate the surge of pilgrims. From September 1 to 7, a total of 5,500 extra buses will operate on key routes.
&ldquo;To ensure safe and seamless travel, around 4,000 staff members will be on duty. Each bus will be monitored round-the-clock through GPS tracking,&rdquo; Sanghavi noted.
For better last-mile connectivity, GSRTC will also run feeder services including 20 buses from Gabbar to Ambaji RTO, 15 between Ambaji and Danta, and another 20 linking Danta with Palanpur. Additional buses will be deployed on longer routes from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and other major cities.
The state government has also arranged for passenger facilities such as temporary shelters, drinking water kiosks, public toilets, information banners, and microphone announcements at key locations.

Gujarat hikes DA, clears Rs 30cr for GSRTC staff

CM Patel approves DA hike to 55%, arrears cleared; 5,500 buses for Ambaji Fair pilgrims

Gujarat hikes DA, clears Rs 30cr for GSRTC staff

CM Patel approves DA hike to 55%, arrears cleared; 5,500 buses for Ambaji Fair pilgrims

August 26, 2025 | 19:04 IST