The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Vijayawada Zone, will operate 1,000 special buses to the Shiva temples for ‘Maha Sivaratri' festival, on February 20.
The corporation will run the buses to the Siva Kshetrams in Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts. Information Centres and Help Centres would be arranged for the convenience of pilgrims, said RTC Vijayawada Zone Executive Director M.S. Prakasa Rao.
Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, Mr. Prakasa Rao said that special services would be operated to Kotappakonda, Srisailam, Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devastanam, Neeladri Konda, Amaravathi, Satrasala, Sangameswara Devalayam, Siva temple at Pedda Kallepalli, Pattiseema, Govada and other shrines.
Buses would be given for hire for pilgrims and group packages will be offered, if sufficient number (40 passengers) were available for the ‘Teerdha Yatras', said the ED. In West Godavari district, the RTC will ply special buses to Pattiseema, Bhalive, Natta Rameswaram, Eeram Palem kshetrams from Jangareddygudem, Koyyalagudem, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Tanuku, Narsapuram, Bhimavaram and other depots. Similarly from Guntur and Krishna districts, the corporation will run buses from Vijayawada, Guntur, Macherla, Ongole, Narsaraopet, Chilakaluripet, Mangalagiri, Nuzvid, Tiruvuru, Avanigadda, Vuyyuru, Jaggaiahmet and other depots to all Sivalayams in the three districts on February 20.
Reservation
The Executive Director said that about 80 buses would be operated to Srisailam and equal number of buses would be run to Vijayawada Kakakadurga Ammavari temple. Nearly, 85 services would run to Pattiseema and 40 buses to Pedda Kallepalli on ‘Maha Sivaratri' festival day.
The management will provide reservation facility for the buses being run to Srisailam. For details one can contact the nearest bus stations/depots or information centres, said Mr. Prakasa Rao.
