KSRTC, Railways gear up for Attukal Pongala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KSRTC and the railways will run special services to clear the rush of devotees for the Attukal Pongala to be held on Tuesday.  Cut-chase buses will be run  from all depots between Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram to Attukal.

“The existing fleet of 45 chain service buses to the temple will be enhanced to 55 on Sunday itself. The increase  in fleet strength will be in a phased manner. An Assistant Road Transport officer will keep special vigil to identify private buses that defy route permit and ply towards the temple. We don’t think they will dare to eat into our revenues like last time,” a KSRTC official said.

The KSRTC staffers will operate special services in two shifts. The first will be between 1a.m. and 7a.m. before Pongala and the second from 1p.m. and 6 p.m. to clear the devotees after Naivedyam.

The  railway will operate six special trains, attach additional coaches in passenger trains and  create additional stoppages for express trains at smaller stations on the day of festival. Additional counters for tickets, medical aid, security coverage and information  will also be opened, the railway said in a statement.

After the Pongala rituals, trains towards Kollam Junction will start from platform No. 1, 4 and 5  and trains towards Nagercoil  from  platform No. 2 & 3 of Thiruvananthapuram central station.

The movement on foot overbridges at tghe railway station will be regulated and will be in one direction only. There will be restriction on vehicle parking as a preventive security measure, railway officials said.