Overcrowded buses test devotees’ patience

Inadequate number of buses made journey difficult during the Chandanotsavam on Wednesday resulting in some trekking uphill. According to devotees, the buses were overcrowded.

A 62-year-old man went by his car and after parking it, took the bus for the darshan. “The bus came in 10 to 15 minutes. But it was overcrowded and journey was very inconvenient,” said the man G. Hanumantha Rao of M.V.P. Colony.

Having bought ₹ 500 ticket, he had to wait for five hours for the darshan which was too long, he said. However, the queues of ₹500, ₹200 and free darshan were not combined. Providing a raised platform also enabled better darshan to devotees.

As the buses were overcrowded some of those who are able-bodied reached uphill by walk. As a part of the traffic regulations for the utsav, private vehicles were not allowed beyond Old Gosala Junction and Adavivaram where parking lots were arranged.

Apparently, there was a mismatch between the 150 buses that plied from various parts of the city and the district to the two alighting points and the 36 that took them uphill.