Good news for devotees: Buses to Tirumala to resume today

In a relief to devotees visiting the abode of Lord Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh, the bus services run by APSRTC to Tirumala Hills will be restored from Wednesday.

The decision was taken late tonight after RTC employees agreed to exempt these services from the ongoing indefinite strike in support of united Andhra Pradesh, sources said from Tirupati.

The bus services to Tirumala have remained suspended since midnight last night as RTC workers joined the stir called by AP Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association demanding revocation of the move to bifurcate the state to create Telangana.

For thousands of pilgrims visiting Tirumala, RTC buses are the main means of transport.

Chittoor district Collector Solomon Arokia Raj and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Executive Officer MG Gopal held talks with striking RTC workers in Tirupati tonight and requested them to exempt the bus services to Tirumala for the convenience of pilgrims.

Accordingly, the RTC drivers agreed to ply the buses from Alipiri, foot of the Tirumala Hills, to the top, the sources said.