Tirupati: RTC Chittoor region to resume bus services to Karnataka

Tirupati: With state government and Karnataka state agreeing to resume inter-state bus services between the two states, APSRTC Chittoor region is all set to commence its bus service to Bengaluru from June 17. To begin with, the region will operate 30 buses from various places in Chittoor district including from Tirupati 13, Srikalahasthi 2, Puttur 2, Chittoor 10, Madanapalli 2 and Piler 1, said deputy chief traffic manager (DCTM) T Madhusudhana.

Speaking to The Hans India, Madhusudhana said STUs (State Transport Undertakings) of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh operate the inter-state bus services as per the provisions of Inter-state Reciprocal Transport Agreements (ISRTA) duly following the guidelines issued by both the states and also Union government.

Initially, the DCTM said the STUs both states commence services on important routes having demand in phase 1 and subsequently increase the numbers depending on the need covering other routes also in a phased manner.

As per ISRTA, STUs of Karnataka viz. KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC will also operate the same number of 30 buses from Tirupati, Chittoor, Madanapalli and Srikalahasti in the district to various cities in Karnataka in phase 1. The RTC is yet to take a decision on operating buses to Tamil Nadu in view of the prevalence of Covid-19 which is rampant in that state. Meanwhile, the RTC Chittoor region enhanced the number of buses daily operated to 445 in tune with the increasing demand from passengers and the region ferried 5.5 lakh passengers so far in June.

Sources said the occupancy rate in buses is also satisfactory and particularly in the buses running between important cities it is almost 100 percent in the morning and evening bus services while in the afternoon services it is moderate.