Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

APSRTC gears up for pilgrim influx

TIRUPATI: APSRTC is moving into top gear to meet the increased pilgrim influx during the Navaratri Brahmotsavams scheduled to get underway in the Tirumala temple from Oct. 12. It proposed to add 80 new buses to its existing fleet of 385 buses operating exclusively on the Tirupati-Tirumala ghat road.

This will take the total number of the trips to be made by the RTC buses on the ghat road to 19650 during the brahmothsavam period, said U. Sudhakar Rao, RTC’s Executive Director (Kadapa & Nellore Zone).

Similarly to handle the estimated inflow of about 8.25 lakh pilgrims during the festival as against 7 lakh handled during the last month’s fete, the RTC is planning to subject its fleet to additional trips. Long distance special operations also are proposed to Tirupati from places like Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Ongole, Nellore, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur by pressing into service additionally 165 buses, Rao added.

Further, the APSRTC has also asked the railways to issue rail-cum-bus tickets to all the Tirumala-bound passengers travelling by the 36 trains either terminating at Tirupati or touching Renigunta in order the save them from the ordeal of once again standing in the long queues for bus tickets. This is a customary service during the Brahmotsavams and the railway authorities also have agreed to comply with our request, the ED said and added that ‘link’ buses would be operated from the ‘out’ gates of Tirupati and Renigunta railway stations for the benefit of those possessing the rail-cum-bus tickets.

He said return journey tickets between Tirupati-Tirumala are issued at a concessional rate of Rs.44/- each and the tickets will be valid for three days. Up and Down reservation facility also is being provided between Tirupati and other major destinations in AP and so also to Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore.

On the eve of Garuda sevthe RTC would ensure an ‘every minute’ frequency on the ghat road both-ways. As for safe operations on the ghat road, the RTC as usual would be posting its Instructors at all the 9 vulnerable curves on the up-ghat road and at the 18 curves on the down ghat road to guide the drivers. Besides, continuous patrolling of the RTC crew on board a jeep also would be arranged for an organised fleet movement during the festival period.

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