Latest news with #APSRTC
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Tirupati temple trust increases its free bus fleet, plans security revamp
As the number of pilgrims visiting Tirumala steadily climbs, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Thursday increased its free bus services for devotees within the temple town. The trust has also been planning to overhaul its security infrastructure, especially at the checkpoint near the Sri Venkateswara Temple. On June 15, the temple saw a peak footfall of 90,815 pilgrims, with the waiting time for darshan extending to approximately 18 hours. Flagging off a fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), TTD Additional Executive Officer (EO) C Venkaiah Chowdary said the initiative aims to address both environmental and financial concerns. 'Devotees can travel in these buses free of cost to various destinations within Tirumala. The service has been launched to curb the high fares charged by private operators and to reduce pollution,' Chowdary said at the launch event at Ashwini Hospital Circle. Officials said that most private vehicles operating in Tirumala are diesel-run jeeps, which not only charge exorbitant fares to ferry devotees to other temples and tourist spots but also contribute significantly to pollution. The initiative has an added goal of discouraging the entry of diesel vehicles into the hill town. Until now, TTD operated a limited fleet of free CNG buses under the 'Srivari Dharma Rathas' service, running approximately 300 trips daily on designated routes. However, these did not cover all of Tirumala. The APSRTC buses will now run parallel to the existing service, with a bus available every two minutes, which is down from a wait time of eight minutes, officials said. In a separate development, TTD is preparing to revamp its security infrastructure in anticipation of a further rise in daily footfall, which is expected to cross one lakh pilgrims in the near future. TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao and Additional EO Chowdary held a review meeting Thursday to discuss plans to modernise the Alipiri Check Point, where all vehicles, luggage, and pilgrims are screened before proceeding up the hill. Currently, the checkpoint operates with a basic security setup. Officials said TTD now wants state-of-the-art scanning systems and faster checks to reduce congestion. RAXA Security Solutions, a GMR Group company, made a presentation on its suggestions to upgrade the checkpoint. The EO asked the firm to propose both short- and long-term solutions to accommodate increasing crowds. While a final contract is yet to be awarded, the EO has directed TTD's Vigilance Wing to begin some immediate measures. These include installing physical barriers to prevent people from bypassing the check while personnel are busy with others, and replacing the existing luggage scanners with rugged, high-capacity ones. The number of scanners will be increased, and authorities will explore the feasibility of extending the luggage conveyor belts to speed up the process. Additional security personnel will also be posted to activate two currently unused lanes at the checkpoint. Meanwhile, TTD has proposed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation that the Renigunta airport near Tirupati be renamed as Sri Venkateswara International Airport. TTD Chairman B R Naidu said that he wants the airport to 'reflect Tirumala's spiritual aesthetics'.
Hans India
20 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
RTC to transport devotees for free in Tirumala
Tirumala: TTD additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary informed that APSRTC buses have been made available to ply within Tirumala transporting devotees free of cost. After flagging off the free RTC bus trips at Ashwini Hospital Circle in Tirumala on Thursday morning, he said that to prevent the high fares charged by private vehicles from devotees and to control pollution in Tirumala, TTD asked APSRTC to operate buses. The RTC officials responded positively and came forward to operate buses. He also said that these buses ply along the route of TTD-run Srivari Dharma Rathas in Tirumala and transport devotees from one area to another for free. Adding further he said, already TTD is plying 300 trips daily in Tirumala through Srivari Dharma Rathams. With the addition of RTC buses, an additional 80 trips have been made possible, he observed. He said that with the availability of free buses from every eight minutes has now come down to every two minutes, thereby strengthening the public transport system. The additional EO also said that it will be convenient for the devotees to go directly to Tirupati by boarding these RTC buses in various parts of Tirumala without coming to the bus stand and paying any additional charges except the Tirumala-Tirupati en route fare. APS RTC executive director Paidi Chandrasekhar, TTD transport GM Sesha Reddy, deputy EO Lokanatham, Tirupati district public transport officer Venkata Rao, deputy CTM Vishwanath, deputy CME, Balaji, Alipiri depot manager Srihari, DI Tirumala Venkatadri Naidu and other officers participated.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Rs 5 lakh aid given to woman assaulted in Kuppam
Kuppam (Chittoor district): The state government on Wednesday provided financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to Sirisha, a woman who was brutally assaulted and publicly humiliated by moneylenders in Kuppam mandal. The incident, which occurred on June 16, involved Sirisha being tied to a tree and beaten in front of her children and onlookers in her native village of Narayanapuram. The attack, reportedly carried out by four members of a lender's family, stemmed from an unpaid debt of Rs 80,000 borrowed by her husband, who has since absconded. A video of the disturbing incident circulated widely on social media, sparking statewide condemnation. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who termed the act 'inhuman,' took immediate cognisance of the incident. He spoke to Sirisha over the phone on Tuesday night, enquiring about her condition and family circumstances. He assured her of government support, including the Rs 5 lakh aid and a commitment to oversee the educational needs of her three children. On Wednesday, the financial assistance was formally handed over to Sirisha by APSRTC vice-chairman P S Muniratnam and KADA project director Vikas Marmat at the project office. Muniratnam, while addressing the media, strongly denounced the incident, stating, 'This was an act of cruelty that shook the conscience of society. No woman should be subjected to such humiliation, especially in the presence of her children. The government stands with Sirisha and will ensure justice and sustained support for her family.' He added that the aid would be placed in a fixed deposit to secure the future of Sirisha's children. Sirisha, a daily wage labourer from Bengaluru, had returned to her village to collect her son's school certificate when the assault took place. Despite her husband's disappearance, she had been managing the family's financial burdens alone. According to KADA director Vikas Marmat, the government is arranging for one of Sirisha's children to be admitted to a Gurukul school in Vijalapuram. Additionally, the KADA assigned committee has sanctioned 50 cents of land for her within municipal limits. The Chief Minister is said to be closely monitoring the case. He has directed the district superintendent of police to expedite the investigation and ensure stringent action is taken against those responsible.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
APSRTC revises bus pooling plan for International Yoga Day event in Vizag
Vijayawada: The APSRTC revised its bus pooling plan, reducing the number of govt buses from 4,000 to 3,200, to ensure the smooth transportation of people from the five North Andhra districts for the main International Yoga Day celebrations. These celebrations are scheduled to take place at RK Beach Road on June 21, with an expected participation of five lakh people. While the APSRTC is pooling 3,200 buses for the transportation of people, the transport department is simultaneously working to mobilise private school buses and commercial vehicles for transporting people to the event on June 21. "The decision to reduce the number of buses from 4,000 to 3,200 is to ensure that no major inconvenience is caused to the common passengers due to the disruption and reduction in the regular bus services in the other parts of the state," a senior APSRTC employee told TOI. Of the total 3,200 buses, around 2,150 buses will be plied in Visakhapatnam district, while another 500 buses will be plied in ASR district. Additionally, 200 buses each will be plied in Anakapalli and Vizianagaram districts, followed by the remaining 150 buses in Srikakulam district. As per the details, the APSRTC will source the 500 buses to be deployed in ASR from Prakasam, SPS Nellore, and Rayalaseema region and plans to deploy them by June 19 in the ASR district. For the remaining 2,700 buses, the APSRTC directed the District Public Transport Officers (DPTOs) of the five North Andhra districts to obtain requisition forms on the number of buses to be supplied to their respective districts for the transportation of the people for the International Yoga Day celebrations.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 1.5 lakh persons from Vizianagaram, Srikakulam expected to take part international yoga day celebrations at RK Beach of Visakhapatnam
Over 1.5 lakh persons from Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts are expected to take part in Yogandhra-2025 celebrations at Ramakrishna Beach of Visakhapatnam on the International Yoga Day on June 21. Administrations of both districts have given top priority for mobilization of yoga practitioners from this region as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu are scheduled to perform yoga asanas at the venue. Vizianagaram Collector B. R. Ambedkar and Joint Collector Sedhu Madhavan have been making elaborate arrangements for sending at least one lakh people from the district to Visakhapatnam. Mr. Sedhu Madhavan who is also nodal officer for the programme said that hassle-free transport facility would be provided for all the participants. He said that the persons who are interested to go one day in advance to Visakhapatnam would also be provided accommodation nearby beach areas. The officials felt that it would not be a big issue to provide transport as Bhimili, Visakhapatnam and other areas are very close to Vizianagaram. Mr. Madhavan suggested the participants use the transport facility offered by the government instead of using personal vehicles due to security reasons. Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar is keen to send at least 80,000 people to Visakhapatnam and make the event a grand success. He held several conferences with APSRTC, transport and other concerned departments to ensure smooth transport facility for the participants. He said that Yogandhra-2025 which was taken up one month ago caught the attention of people living in rural and tribal areas also. He said that people living in remote areas were also interested in performing yoga in Visakhapatnam on the day.
