Special buses will be operated by the Visakhapatnam Region of APSRTC for the benefit of devotees visiting the ‘Pancharama Kshetras’ during ‘karteeka masam’ and for Ayyappa devotees visiting Sabarimala.
“This year, we have plans to operate 70 specials to Sabarimala from November 15 to January 20, 2016. We are expecting 15 to 20 new buses next month. Plan is to operate them for Sabarimala package tours,” Regional Manager G. Sudesh Kumar told the media here on Wednesday.
The corporation plans to operate 5, 6, and 7-day package tours to Sabarimala. These special services are sought-after not only from Visakhapatnam district but also from Nowrangpur, Koraput, and Jeypore in neighbouring Odisha. Super Luxury and Deluxe coaches will be used for the package tours.
Online reservation
Reservation can be done online atwww.apsrtconline.in.
Special buses will be operated to ‘Pancharama Kshetras’ to enable devotees to visit famous temples of Lord Shiva in a single day. They are: Sri Amareswara Swamy temple on the banks of the Krishna at Amaravati, Sri Bheemeswara Swamy temple at Bhimavaram, Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple at Palakollu, Sri Bheema Lingeswara Swamy temple at Draksharamam, and Kumara Ramalingeswara Swamy temple at Samalkot.
These specials will start from Dwaraka Bus Station on November 15, 22, and 29, and December 6 (Sundays) to enable devotees to have darshan of the deity on Mondays, which is considered auspicious during the ‘karteeka masam’. Mr. Sudesh Kumar said that last year only 15 buses could be operated to Sabarimala because of Hudhud. Revenue from these special buses was Rs.25 lakh.
Special buses are also being operated to Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, apart from Vijayawada, in view of Darasa festival.
Deputy Chief Traffic Manager (Rural) M. Sudhabindu was present.
