Though Gujaratis are known to spend their Diwali holidays away from home, this time many of them thronged the Kankaria Lake Front (KLF). A favourite picnic spot among people, the place received 67,797 visitors and generated an income of Rs9,00,901 on October 29. However, BRTS witnessed a dip in income during the holiday period.
KLF is a prime location where families go for entertainment. More than 2.37 lakh people visited Kankaria on the first four days of Vikram Samvat 2068 and it recorded an income of more than Rs31 lakh.
MS Patel, deputy municipal commissioner of AMC's south zone, said: "We recorded the highest ever income - Rs9 lakh - on a single day on October 29."
The good response during the festive season made the civic body keep Kankaria Lake Front open on Monday also. Earlier, on Eid on August 31, Kankaria had grossed Rs8.4 lakh income.
KLF sources said during summer vacations in May and June, the place receives around 35,000-40,000 visitors on a single day, but during this Diwali season, the response has been very enthusiastic.
The rush for toy train at Kankaria forced the administration to use both the trains to full capacity round-the-clock. Similarly, visitors were also seen making a beeline for 'Kids City'.
BRTS, on the other hand, registered a dip in revenue and received fewer footfalls.
On Diwali, 79,943 people used BRTS giving it an income of Rs4.52 lakh; on New Year day, and 1,04,557 commuters used the system giving it an income of Rs6.2 lakh. This was far below its daily income of around Rs8 lakh with average 1.3 lakh panssengers using this mode of transportation.
"The BRTS has been heavily affected due to Diwali holidays. Whatever income it fetched was mainly because of heavy rush at Kankaria," said sources in Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd.
The sources also said that things are expected to be normal after the markets and educational institutes reopen.
