Date:26/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/26/stories/2008022650420200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

APSRTC to run 169 specials for Sivaratri

Staff Reporter

Sangareddy: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Medak Regional Manager M. Venkteswara Reddy on Monday said that 169 buses have been drafted from all over the region to cater to the needs of devotees from March 4 to 10 to meet the Sivaratri rush.

35 lakh pilgrims

Addressing a press conference here, he said an estimated 30 to 35 lakh pilgrims were likely to utilise these extra services during the period.

Listing out the action plan for Edupayala Jatara he said that the buses would operate from Medak, Balanagar, Ramayampet, Toopran, Yeldurty, Shankarampet, Bodmatpally, Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Jogipet, Zaheerabad ,Solapur and Siddipet.

To Srisailam

Buses to Srisailam would operate from Narayankhed, Sangareddy, and Zaheerabad. The Medak region would also operate services to Jherasangham Ketaki Sangameswara temple from Zaheerabad, and additional services to Vemulawada from Siddipet.

Extra fare

However, passengers who prefer to travel by the special buses have to pay one-and-a-half times over and above the regular charge. Mr. Reddy said that all the CAT cardholders would receive the concession as usual.

Bus to Mumbai

Minister for Major Industries J. Geeta Reddy would launch the Gajwel-Mumbai super express bus service from Gajwel on Tuesday.

The bus to Mumbai would leave Gajwel every day at 2 p.m. and reach Mumbai the next day at 9.15 a.m. On its way it would touch Sangareddy and Zaheerabad. In return the bus would leave Mumbai at 12 noon to arrive at Gajwel at 6.55 a.m. the next day.

Charges

The charge had been fixed at Rs. 447 from Gajwel, Rs. 409 from Sangareddy and Rs. 385 from Zaheerabad.