Doubts over arrival of new buses for Brahmostavams

Tirupati: It is custom practice to the APSRTC to add new buses to Tirumala, Tirupati, Alipiri and Chittoor depots every year on the eve of annual Brahmostavams of Tirumala temple. Every year new buses were being added to the existing buses at these depots meant for shuttle trips between Tirupati and Tirumala. These buses were specially made for ghat road journey. Compared to normal buses, these are small and can carry less number of commuters.

Three years ago, on the eve of ‘Sakala Janula Samme’ in the Telangana region, there were several problems in getting these buses to Chittoor district from Hyderabad. But with many constraints and opposition from the drivers of the Telangana region, the drivers from Chittoor district went to Hyderabad and brought them to Tirupati and later distributed to various depots.

But this time, all the RTC drivers and conductors were in indefinite strike, no driver may accept the request of RTC officials to bring those buses to Tirupati. Perhaps the drivers from the Telangana region may bring those to here. For every Brahmostavams, the Tirupati, Tirumala and Alipiri depots were getting at least 50 new ‘Sapthagiri’ buses from the RTC head office, Hyderabad.

Chief Traffic Manager Chengal Reddy said that they are hopeful the ongoing strike would be called off by that time, and they don’t expect any problem to pilgrims from the RTC Already, the higher officials of RTC discussed various issues, including this two days ago, but no employee has come forward to withdraw the strike, he replied.