The first special bus from Visakhapatnam to Sabarimala this year was flagged off by APSRTC District Public Transport Officer (DPTO) B. Appala Naidu at Visakhapatnam Depot, on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Appala Naidu said that Ayyappa devotees, who have taken ‘deeksha’, have already booked six buses so far. Some other devotees were making inquiries on the special services. The ticket fares will be determined by APSRTC, based on the routes chosen by the devotees.
He said that special buses were also being operated to Hyderabad, Vijayawada and other destinations based on the demand. The ‘Kshetra Darshini’ special package for devotees visiting ‘Pancharama Kshetras’ during the ‘Kartika Masam’ evoked good response. Special buses were being operated to Lord Vishnu temples during the ongoing ‘Dhanur Masam’.
The DPTO said that frequent inspections were being conducted on long-distance AC buses to ensure the safety of passengers. Refresher training was also being given to RTC drivers on how to care for passengers in emergency situations.
Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer Gangadhar, Works Manager Aruna Kumari, Depot Manager Mani Madhuri and Assistant Engineer Ramakrishna also participated in the event.
Published – November 22, 2025 06:59 pm IST
