VIJAYAWADA: Amid the rising cacophony of vehicle horns and booming announcements, a strong voice seeks to draw the attention of passengers at the alighting block of Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS). The staff at a special counter set up there try to help devotees coming from far-off places to visit Gunadala Mary Matha hill shrine located at Gunadala here.

On seeing a bus arriving at the terminal, a shrill voice says: "Gunadala Mary Matha Yaatrikulaku Vignapti" (attention, devotees of Gunadala Mary Matha)", promptly catching the attention of devotees among the milling crowds.

The voice continues: "Number 8702 gala bus Gunadala vellutaku edava number platform meeda siddhamuga unnadhi." (Bus number 8702 is ready to leave for Gunadala from platform number 7). The passengers can go by this special bus just by paying Rs.5 per head. Passengers are requested to make use of this facility.

The APSRTC staff keeps giving this information round-the-clock from a special counter for the benefit of pilgrims going to participate in the three-day Mary Matha festival at Gunadala. Having deployed 75 special buses on the three days of the festival, the officials are trying to ensure that the patronage is satisfactory.

Though passengers coming from other parts of the State usually go to the city bus terminal outside the PNBS to board a city bus bound for Gunadala, APSRTC is running the special services right from the alighting point in the PNBS.

The staff at the special counter located opposite platform number 7 alert the passengers the moment a bus arrives at any alighting platform.

Once enough number of passengers board a special bus, it starts for Gunadala, and another special bus is pressed into service.

Poor patronage

On the first day, the patronage was noticeably poor. It was taking at least 15-20 minutes for each special bus to get all seats occupied.

"More devotees will come on the last two days," said Customer Relations Coordinator K. S. Raju, who was in charge of the special counter.

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