Pithoragarh Depot
Pithoragarh depot is a regional bus depot operated by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC), the state-owned road transport corporation of the Government of Uttarakhand, India. The depot is located in the hill town of Pithoragarh in eastern Kumaon and serves as a key hub for public transportation across Uttarakhand with routes to neighboring states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi.
History
The depot was established in the 1970s under the administration of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), with the objective of improving road connectivity in the mountainous regions of eastern Kumaon. Following the formation of the state of Uttarakhand in 2000, the depot was incorporated into the newly created Uttarakhand Transport Corporation in 2003.
Initially, the depot operated a limited number of services to nearby towns such as Tanakpur, Gangolihat, and Dharchula. Over the decades, the route network expanded to include long-distance and inter-state operations.
Routes and services
Pithoragarh depot operates both intra-district and long-distance services. It connects Pithoragarh with regional towns like Didihat, Madkot, Dharchula, and Jhulaghat, as well as major cities such as Dehradun, Delhi, Lucknow, Haridwar, and Bareilly.
As of 2025, the depot manages approximately 18 daily routes, serving an estimated 600 passengers per day.
Notable Routes
* Pithoragarh - Dharchula - Delhi (via Seraghat): A long-distance service that connects the India-Nepal border town of Dharchula to the national capital. The route operates as a five-day round trip.
* Pithoragarh - Munsiyari - Delhi: Formerly operated by Pithoragarh Depot, this was one of the longest routes in the region, spanning approximately 1,460 km. The service is now operated from the Bageshwar depot.
Fleet and infrastructure
As of 2025, the depot maintains a fleet of around 90 buses, comprising:
* 28 Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) compliant buses
* 16 Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) buses
* BS-III vehicles
The depot also maintains a repair and maintenance workshop in Pithoragarh. Renovation of the workshop and construction of a new bus terminal were initiated in response to increasing passenger volume and infrastructure requirements.
Operations
Pithoragarh depot falls under the administrative jurisdiction of UTC’s Tanakpur division, which is one of three divisions (others being Dehradun and Nainital). The depot employs around 350 personnel, including drivers, conductors, mechanical staff, and office workers.
Service delivery
Ticket booking for bus services are available through online booking portal, in-person booking counters, or UTC's official mobile application called "Pathik." A schedule of timetable is available on UTC's website.
Cultural significance
Several buses operated from this depot display regional decorative elements such as Trishul (trident) and Khanda (double-edged sword) symbols on their front panels. These have become informal identifiers of buses from this region and are associated with local cultural traditions.
History
The depot was established in the 1970s under the administration of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), with the objective of improving road connectivity in the mountainous regions of eastern Kumaon. Following the formation of the state of Uttarakhand in 2000, the depot was incorporated into the newly created Uttarakhand Transport Corporation in 2003.
Initially, the depot operated a limited number of services to nearby towns such as Tanakpur, Gangolihat, and Dharchula. Over the decades, the route network expanded to include long-distance and inter-state operations.
Routes and services
Pithoragarh depot operates both intra-district and long-distance services. It connects Pithoragarh with regional towns like Didihat, Madkot, Dharchula, and Jhulaghat, as well as major cities such as Dehradun, Delhi, Lucknow, Haridwar, and Bareilly.
As of 2025, the depot manages approximately 18 daily routes, serving an estimated 600 passengers per day.
Notable Routes
* Pithoragarh - Dharchula - Delhi (via Seraghat): A long-distance service that connects the India-Nepal border town of Dharchula to the national capital. The route operates as a five-day round trip.
* Pithoragarh - Munsiyari - Delhi: Formerly operated by Pithoragarh Depot, this was one of the longest routes in the region, spanning approximately 1,460 km. The service is now operated from the Bageshwar depot.
Fleet and infrastructure
As of 2025, the depot maintains a fleet of around 90 buses, comprising:
* 28 Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) compliant buses
* 16 Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) buses
* BS-III vehicles
The depot also maintains a repair and maintenance workshop in Pithoragarh. Renovation of the workshop and construction of a new bus terminal were initiated in response to increasing passenger volume and infrastructure requirements.
Operations
Pithoragarh depot falls under the administrative jurisdiction of UTC’s Tanakpur division, which is one of three divisions (others being Dehradun and Nainital). The depot employs around 350 personnel, including drivers, conductors, mechanical staff, and office workers.
Service delivery
Ticket booking for bus services are available through online booking portal, in-person booking counters, or UTC's official mobile application called "Pathik." A schedule of timetable is available on UTC's website.
Cultural significance
Several buses operated from this depot display regional decorative elements such as Trishul (trident) and Khanda (double-edged sword) symbols on their front panels. These have become informal identifiers of buses from this region and are associated with local cultural traditions.
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