It took almost 69 years since Independence for a state transport bus to reach a tiny village, barely 40 kms from Nagpur, housing around 400 people.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on Tuesday launched a bus service to the Khairi Sita village in the district, thereby connecting it to a faster mode of transport, official sources said.

The villagers welcomed the bus service by beating drums, dancing in front of the vehicle and smearing each other with colours.

As per the sources, about 40 children, including 20 girls of standard X, had to walk everyday to nearby Adegaon for studies. Upto Adegaon bypass road, there was no vehicle connectivity.

The children had to walk to the bypass early in the morning, and their security was a concern awhile returning to the village in the evening.

Deputy Commissioner (Caste Certificate Verification Committee) in Amravati division Bhimrao Khandate, who hails from the village, had earlier taken up the issue with MSRTC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Ranjit Singh Deol and apprised him of the situation.

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