All roads lead to Godavari Pushkarams

VISAKHAPATNAM: In view of the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams, the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has diverted 450 buses from other routes to ply exclusively to Rajahmundry from various parts of north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam from July 13 to 24 for the convenience of pilgrims.
These buses will be in addition to the 147 buses from key depots such as Palasa, Tekkali, Palakonda and Srikakulam in Srikakulam district, Salur, Parvatipuram, Bobbili and Vizianagaram Town in Vizianagaram district and Visakhapatnam city, Narsipatnam and Anakapalle in Visakhapatnam district that ply to Rajahmundry.
Moreover, 300 city buses from Vizag city and Hyderabad City have been diverted to ply on 10 routes within Rajahmundry town limits, round-the-clock and free of cost. Pilgrims can board these buses to reach their destinations and the state government will reimburse the service charges at the rate of Rs 10,000 per bus to APSRTC.
The Vizianagaram zone of APSRTC that takes cares of the four coastal districts, including East Godavari, has made all the requisite arrangements to ensure peaceful conduct of the pushkarams, said APSRTC Vizianagaram zone executive director, A Ramakrishna.
" We will receive Rs 3.6 crore from the state government for running the 300 city buses in Rajahmundry town during the festival. This apart, we also expect to mop up Rs 17 crore for running nearly 600 buses from the north coastal AP districts to Rajahmundry," Ramakrishna told TOI.
The Pushkarams committee has allotted four parking lots out of 140 to APSRTC at Rajahmundry keeping in view possible traffic problems as traffic restrictions will come into effect from July 13 at 4 pm after which no vehicle would be allowed into the town limits.
" Only city buses will ply in Rajahmundry town limits as no other vehicle will be allowed to ply after the traffic restrictions come into force from 4 pm on July 13 till July 25. All pilgrims will have to use only city bus services. Private vehicles can be parked at designated spaces outside the town limits, but at owners’ risk. Parking lots have already been announced and widely publicised, including on the online portal for the Pushkarams," said Rajahmundry traffic DSP G Srikanth.
According to the traffic police department, vehicles coming from the three north coastal districts can be parked at designated places at HB Colony and Chowdeshwari Nagar of Lalacheruvu, while the contract carriage vehicles (cabs and private buses and vans) need to be parked at the open space beside the Hyundai Showroom at Auto Nagar in Diwancheruvu and in front of the JP Papermill. Cars and jeeps need to be parked at Lalacheruvu, Morampudi Maha Lakshmi Market area and Arts College Ground.