3,845 buses, 23 lakh passengers: TSRTC gears up for Medaram jatara

Hyderabad: The Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is all geared up for the Medaram Jatara. It will ply 3,845 buses from 51 points and is expected to transport 23 lakh passengers to the festival.

"TSRTC's association with the jatara goes back to 1968 when we first operated our buses. Since then, TSRTC has been serving the public with renewed interest and dedication," said V.C Sajjanar, the vice-chairman and managing director of TSRTC while addressing a press conference at Bus Bhavan on Friday.

The 51 bus operation points include Hanamkonda, Kazipet, Warangal, Janagaon, Hyderabad, Hyderabad Peripherals, Asifabad, Atmakur, Bellampally, Bhadrachalam, Bhupalpally, Chennur, Cherla, Chityal, Eturnagaram, Ghanpur (Mulugu) Ghanpur (Station), Godavarikhani, Govindaraopet, Gudur, Husnabad, Huzurabad, Jangalapally, Kaleshwaram, Karimnagar, Kataram, Khammam, Kothaguda, Kothagudem, Mahabubabad, Mallampally, Mancherial, Mandamarri, Mangapet, Manguru, Manthany, Mulug, Narlapoor, Narsampet, Palvancha, Parkal, Pasra, Peddapally, Peruru, Sironcha (Maharashtra), Srirampur, Thadvai, Thorrur, Vazedu, Venkatapur, Wardannapet, and Yellandu.

The bus fares will remain the same as last time, Mr. Sajjanar said. Buses are being operated from Sironcha in Maharashtra also.

While the TSRTC does not see the jatara as a revenue-generating event, for the records it is expected to bring in Rs. 32 crore, Mr Sajjanar said.

App for pilgrims

Mr. Sajjanar launched 'Medaram with TSRTC', an app developed by four students – N. Sai Kaushik, P. Tharun, P. Vishnukanth, and C. Aniroo, all CSE students of Kakatiya Institute of Technology and Science (KITS), Warangal. The app will help pilgrims plan their journey better

This is the first-ever launch in the history of TSRTC. The app can be downloaded from the TSRTC's official website (www.tsrtc.telangana.gov.in). Very soon it will be available on Google Play Store, Mr. Sajjanar said.

The app, developed for Android phones, gives information about Medaram, its history, bus operating points, details of special buses, ticket booking, tourist places in and around Medaram, map of Medaram, emergency numbers, and details of nearby hotels. It will also give a link to TSRTC social media.

Arrangements for jatara

In preparation for the jatara, TSRTC has set up a temporary bus station in a 50-acre area. Besides this, six acres at Mahavir Park and nine acres at Kamaram are also being used for the same purpose. It has also deployed 300 volunteers to help passengers and installed 100 CCTVs to monitor the queues.

Only TSRTC buses will be allowed to travel close to the main deity (Gadde). All private vehicles will have to park 6-7 km away. Hence, Mr. Sajjanar has advised people to use public transportation. He said 30 shuttle buses will be used to ferry passengers from the private vehicle parking area for free.

To avoid traffic jams, the Corporation has also deployed 11 mobile mechanical/repair teams.

TSRTC has also arranged a makeshift hospital and three ambulances to handle any medical emergencies. Four RO plants are also being set up for the TSRTC staff who will stay at the jatara for eight days. Their accommodation and food arrangements has been taken care of, Mr. Sajjanar said and added that the government has agreed to give booster doses to all the staff who are deputed to work at Medaram.