SCR, RTC ramp up services for Sabarimala pilgrims, private cabs take a hit
Hyderabad: As lakhs of devotees from Hyderabad head for the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, the SCR and the TSRTC are making special arrangements to meet the seasonal demand.
The devotees take up the Ayyappa Deeksha for 40 days, after which they visit Sabarimala in Kerala. The rush of devotees is concentrated between November and January.
At regular times, only one train connects Hyderabad with Thiruvananthapuram. This surge in devotees has led to increased demand for transport facilities.
SCR has planned to operate 400 special trains this season to meet the demand, as the 1,560-km journey takes approximately 30 hours.
An SCR official stated, “Last year, we operated around 300 special trains for Sabarimala darshan. This year, the number will exceed 400.” He said that the SCR had announced 49 specials trains have been announced for November, 60 for December, and 19 for January.”
An official from the TSRTC said bus rentals had been reduced; groups of Ayyappa devotees hire buses for their pilgrimage. “The fares are now lower by Rs 11 per km for Palle Velugu, Rs 7 for express, Rs 8 for deluxe, Rs 6 for super luxury, and Rs 7 less per km for Rajdhani buses,” he said. By the end of this season, around 400 buses are expected to be booked, compared to 380 buses last year.
A few years ago, devotees primarily relied on hiring multi-utility vehicles and minibuses, as air services were limited and train services were restricted.
There has been a drastic decline in the hire of private vehicles over time. Akbir Ali Khan of Metro Travel commented, “Earlier, more than 500 minibuses and MUVs were booked by Ayyappa devotees. Now, people prefer flights or trains, which are more economical. The increased road taxes and toll fees have made road transport, especially taxis, more expensive.”
Raghav V., a corporate employee, shared his experience, saying, “My first Deeksha was in 1996. Each year, I have noticed more devotees taking up the Deeksha. Initially, when we travelled, there were few trains, and we had to change trains at different stations. Flights were almost non-existent.”
Purna Chandra Rao Katapally, a resident of Secunderabad, added, “During Karthika Masam, which is considered auspicious, several devotees take up Deeksha. This period, lasting for 40 days, is known as Mandalam. The Deeksha is planned so that devotees can visit the Sabarimala temple, which will be open on January 14, 15, and 16. Devotees need to visit the temple before these dates.”