Weekend getaway plans to Bengaluru ‘violently’ hit

Bengaluru is one of the most sought-after destinations for a quick weekend break. However, this weekend, things are different. Bus operators say that the booking is less than usual after the incidents of riots in the Karnataka capital.

Vishnu Nair is an IT employee and has his family living in Bengaluru. It was only a few months back that he moved to Chennai. “I travel to Bengaluru every other weekend. It’s convenient as the bus tickets are easily available. I was planning to go home this weekend too but seeing the situation, I had to change my mind.” 

Travel agencies that run regular bus services from Chennai to Bengaluru agree that booking this week has been low. “Usually, the online booking for buses to Bengaluru is 80 per cent full by Thursday but this time, the booking has been less,” says Mohammed Salim a travel agent operating from Koyambedu.

Pradeep, another agent says, “There have been incidents where passengers were assaulted on highways. People are wary of travelling to such places. But, we hope that things come to normal by weekend and we can see rise in spot bookings.” 

Those who prefer driving down are thinking of postponing their plan. “I once made the mistake of driving from Bengaluru to Chennai in the midst of a political agitation. I was returning home to join work next day. Although the highways were calm, the outskirts thronging with activists who were targeting vehicles with Karnataka license plates,” says Subah S, an IT employee.