BENGALURU: With Ayudha pooja on Friday and Gandhi Jayanti on Monday, many left the city on Thursday. Traffic was chaotic on Thursday night as many headed out to other destinations for the extended weekend, leaving areas around designated bus pick up locations jammed.
This was despite the traffic restrictions imposed in many areas. Private bus services made a quick buck as the prices of bus tickets went up. “I usually book tickets to my hometown Gokarna for `600 to `800. Now that it is festive season, I had to pay `1,200,” said Ashish, a commuter.
Another challenge for many people travelling elsewhere in the state was finding accommodation as hotels are all booked. Also, on the eve of Ayudha pooja, markets in the city saw heavy rush with people doing the last-minute purchases. Many in the city made quick visits to ATMs to withdraw money. “Last time when there was an extended weekend, it was so tough to find an ATM with cash,” said Rajendra, a resident of Jayanagar.