Bhadradri hundi collection nosedives, thanks to RTC strike, stalling of Papikondalu services

Bhadrachalam: The impact of the RTC strike was witnessed at the Lord Rama temple, with the temple pocketing just Rs 75,000 as Hundi offerings in the last 57 days.

According to temple officers, the temple receives over Rs 55 lakh on an average every month. However, with the ongoing RTC strike, the devotee footfalls have fallen denting the Hundi collections, said the temple officials.

Earlier, the Hundi income for 42 days that were counted on July 1 was at Rs 1.09 crore, followed by 80 days income, counted on September 18, stood at Rs 1.29 crore. Now the temple could get an income of Rs 75,000 in the last 57 days. Though the temple officials expected more devotees to visit during the Dasara and Diwali festivals, due to the RTC strike, the devotee footfalls along with the Hundi collections nosedived.

Apart from the RTC strike, the Papikondalu tourist services stopped by the Andhra Pradesh government post the boat capsize incident in the river Godavari also affected the Hundi income. Most of the tourists who take the Papikondalu trip make sure they visit the Lord Rama temple. However, with the AP government pulling out the Papikondalu services, the number of devotees visiting the temple also fell.