RTC to sell bus tickets for Tirumala on trains

Guntakal Railway Division officials have decided to allow the APSRTC to sell bus tickets on trains to passengers to travel from Tirupati and Tirumala.
Goddess Padmavathi Devi being taken on Mutyapu Pandiri Vahanam as part of Brahmotsavams at Tiruchanur on Friday | Express
Goddess Padmavathi Devi being taken on Mutyapu Pandiri Vahanam as part of Brahmotsavams at Tiruchanur on Friday | Express

TIRUPATI: Guntakal Railway Division officials have decided to allow the APSRTC to sell bus tickets on trains to passengers to travel from Tirupati and Tirumala.To ease the pilgrim flow with the safe and secured way of transportation on the ghat road between Tirupati and Tirumala, along with providing proper directions to the new comers and frequent visitors, the Indian Railways is allowing the APSRTC conductors to sell tickets on trains.

After evaluating the passengers’ satisfaction since sale of bus tickets on Narayanadri train by RTC staff, in the last 10 days, the Guntakal Railway Division officials have decided to continue this facility to railway passengers on a pilgrimage.Since November 1, the Railways has allowed selling of bus tickets to travel from Tirupati to Tirumala and return on Train No 12733 that is Narayanadri, on a trial basis. 

A conductor was allowed to board the train at Srikalahasti and sell tickets. He sold 150 to 250 tickets on the train. The Railways also got the feedback from passengers about the train-cum-bus tickets.
At present, the Railways is going to allow the sale of bus tickets on Train No 12733. Later, according to the railway authorities’ directions, it may be allowed on all trains bounding to Tirupati or routed to Tirupati.

According to the RTC, they are having plans to board trains at Srikalahasti, Puthoor, Renigunta, Pakala and Chittoor and sell tickets to passengers. The passengers, who commute by trains from different places can avail RTC bus facilities before the arrival of Tirupati railway station and return journey tickets.
“The conductors can enter only sleeper, AC, general bogies and sell tickets. The RTC is also planning to extend the facility to trains from Tamil Nadu,” RTC Regional Manager Naga Sivudu told Express. He said that all the trains either bounding to Tirupati or enrouted to Tirupati are filled with passengers, and RTC wants to reach them to sell bus tickets for Ghat road commuting.

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