Railways, RTC gear up for Brahmotsavams

Tirupati: As the nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara will be commencing on September 23, the Railways and RTC are gearing up to meet additional influx of pilgrims. As the Brahmotsavams are coupled with the Dasara holidays, the authorities were expecting huge rush of devotees.

To meet the extra demand, Railway authorities were having a close watch on the waiting lists of various trains reaching pilgrim from various destinations to introduce special trains for the convenience of passengers. Several trains for which Tirupati is the source or destination station, were already having huge waiting lists. During normal days also, Tirupati will have good influx of passengers and considered as a grade one railway station in South Central Railway (SCR).

It is the only station which contributes Rs 40-50 lakh daily to the Railways in Guntakal Division. Every day, 97 trains of all categories pass through Tirupati railway station. So far, SCR has announced two trains between Tirupati-Kakinada which will run on Thursday and Saturday.

Train number 07941 will leave Kakinada station at 7 pm on September 20 to reach Tirupati at 6.20 am the next day. On September 21, train number 07492 leaves Tirupati at 7 pm to reach Kakinada at 5.30 am the next day. Similarly, the train runs on September 22 and 23 also. It halts at Samalkot, Rajahmundry, Tadepalligudem, Eluru, Vijayawada, Tenali, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Srikalahasti and Renigunta.

The train will have 15 coaches. Speaking to The Hans India, Tirupati Station Manager M Subodh Mithra said another train between Secunderabad and Tirupati is under consideration and may be announced in a day or two. He said that they were coordinating with the TTD authorities to make arrangements for the pilgrims. With the help of the TTD, information counters will be opened at railway station, he said.

Apart from the regular doctors of Railways, the station manager said that they are entering into an understanding with the Narayanadri Hospitals to arrange special medical camp at railway station for the pilgrims.

The RTC authorities have planned to run 550 buses between Tirupati and Tirumala on Garuda Seva Day which will make around 4,200 trips. On the remaining days of Brahmotsavams, the bus trips may go up to 2,000 from the existing 1,600 depending on the rush.

APSRTC Regional Manager V Nagasivudu revealed that they are providing relief teams on the ghat road along with the TTD. Safety driving instructors will be deployed at vulnerable turnings on the ghat roads, he stated and added that more buses will be operated to various destinations of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as more pilgrims are expected from that states. Letters were sent to Vijayawada, Nellore and other depots to operate more buses as and when required.

Information centres and medical camps will be held at the bus station, he maintained. Meanwhile, the Transport department allocated Brahmotsavam duties to 32 Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) working in the district.

They have to ensure that no vehicle without proper documentation should enter Tirumala. Taxi drivers should collect only the approved fares from the pilgrims. The MVIs have to take action against taxi drivers if they receive complaints from pilgrims of collecting additional fare from them. On Garuda Seva day, no two-wheeler will be allowed on ghat roads.

By V Pradeep Kumar