Movement of private vehicles to Chamundi Hills will be restricted on Friday, as the first Friday of the ‘Ashada’ season usually draws thousands of devotees to the hill temple.
According to Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, private vehicles will not be allowed to the hilltop from 10 p.m. on Thursday. Therefore, those who want to visit the temple will have to park their vehicles near the Lalitha Mahal helipad at the foot of the hill and make use of public transport thereafter.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be running special buses to the hill from the helipad to pick up and drop devotees. The free bus service will be available from 2 a.m. to 10 p.m. on all four Fridays.
Vehicles that carry prasadam to the hill for distribution will need a mandatory pass from the district administration. For such vehicles, parking arrangements have been made near the bus stand, Mr. Dayanand said.
This system will be in place on July 15, 22 and 29 (all Fridays) as well, and also on July 26, which happens to the ‘Vardhantotsava’ of goddess Chamundeshwari.
The office of the Commissioner of Police is issuing passes to VVIPs, VIPs, vehicles on duty, and others. Separate parking arrangements have been made for these vehicles atop the hill.
Meanwhile, the traffic police have barred traffic movement from Uttanahalli side to the hills. The residents of Chamundi Hills have been asked to collect passes from the gram panchayat office after submitting details including their driving licence and ID card.
