Bus station to function at Pampa from November 13
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has made elaborate arrangements to commence special bus services for Ayyappa devotees from major bus stations to Pampa and Erumeli during the forthcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
In addition, the KSRTC will also operate special bus services from Chengannur, Kottayam, and Ernakulam railway stations to Pampa and Erumeli for the benefit of Ayyappa devotees coming by various trains.
The KSRTC will deploy only new buses for the special bus service and has decided not to use buses that are more than three years old.
The KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director has issued instructions to operate special bus service to Pampa from any bus station if there is a minimum of 45 pilgrims. The aim of the KSRTC is to operate 15 per cent more special bus services this season to Pampa and to increase revenue by 25 per cent.
The KSRTC bus station with all facilities, including garage, at Pampa will function from November 13. Zonal Officer, Thrissur, had been posted as Special Officer and three other officials to assist him.
A temporary bus station will also be set up at Nilackal. Chain services of KSRTC will operate from Pampa-Triveni to Nilackal and initially 100 KSRTC buses will be deployed.
Mobile workshops will be stationed at Nilackal, Plappally, and Perinad to take care of the snag.
Group reservation
Advance reservation, including the return journey, can be made 10 days prior to the pilgrimage from all major bus stations. Group reservation can also be made.
The buses will collect the devotees within a 10 km radius of the bus station if more than 45 or more pilgrims make bulk booking.
Executive Director (Operations) K. M. Irshad had been posted as the Chief Coordinating Officer of the special bus services and Mechanical Engineer L. Pradeep Kumar as Assistant Coordinating Officer. The special bus service centres had been divided into South, Central, and North and had posted Controlling Officers for each zone.
For the benefit of commuters, the KSRTC has decided to display information in Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada in various places at Pampa. The buses will also have destination boards in these languages.
Online reservation can be made from Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kottarakara, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur, Munnar, Malappuram, Sulthan Bathery, Kasaragod, Guruvayur, Valancherry, Mysore, Bangalore (Majestic and Satellite), and Coimbatore. Online and off-line reservation of seats can be done at Thiruvananthapuram Central and Pampa.
Directive issued
The KSRTC has issued instructions to deploy only those who are not involved in major accidents and known for efficiency as crew for the special bus services.
The officials had been asked not to deploy those with drinking habits for operating the services.
- Online seat reservation from various centres
- Buses which are over three years old not to be used
Source: The Hindu
