The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is operating about 1,000 ‘Kartika Masam’ special buses for the convenience of pilgrims. The special services would provide transportation to all Sivalayams in the State.
The corporation has planned to run buses from almost all the depots in North East Coastal zone, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Nellore and Kadapa zones. About 50 buses were arranged for devotees on ‘Toli Kartika Somavaram.’
Speaking to The Hindu, APSRTC Executive Director (ED-Operations) G. Jaya Rao has said the Corporation plied about 900 services during ‘Kartika Masam’ last year, and this year, the officials planned to operate 1,000 buses to different temples in the State.
“Kartika Masam’ specials are planned to Pancharama temples, Amaralingeswara Swamy temple in Guntur district, Draksharamam Bheemeswara Swamy devasthanam in East Godavari district, Someswara Swamy temple in Bhimavaram and Ksherarama Swamy temple at Palakol in West Godavar district and Kumara Bheemeswara Swamy temple at Samalkot in East Godavari district.
Besides, buses will be operated to Pattiseema, Annavaram, Srisailam, Amaravati, Suryalanka, Tiruvannamalai, Nitya Puja Kona, Pulathala and other temples. The Krishna, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool regions will arrange buses for Trilinga Darshini, Pancha Sivalaya Darshini and Pancha Kshetra Darshini for the devotees, the ED said.
Devotees can book special buses on packages and advanced reservation system is arranged at all bus stations and franchises and public can contact the depot managers concerned for special services. On the first day on Monday, RTC officials operated 56 buses to different Siva temples, Mr. Jaya Rao said.
Advanced tickets can also be booked online. Families, employees and friends can book special buses for pilgrimages during ‘Kartika Masam’ as per their convenience. Last year, APSRTC had operated more than 600 buses for Pancharama kshetras, the ED said.