Sabarimala pilgrimage: Special buses, trains to clear rush

According to a press release, 64 special buses would be operated from Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai, Pondicherry and Tenkasi from November 15 to January 20. All the special buses are Ultra Deluxe variant of the SETC.

Of the 64 buses, 55 will be operated from Chennai, while two buses will be operated from Tiruchy, Madurai and Pondicherry. Three buses will be operated from Thenkasi.

Devotees can book tickets online or can also contact 9445014412, 9445014450, 9445014424, 9445014463 and 9445014416 to get details regarding the special buses.

A special train would be operated to Shivamogga from Chennai to clear extra rush of passengers.

Special fare special train no 06222 will leave MGR Central at 3pm on November 17, 24, 31, December 7, 14, 21,28, January 4 and February 11. The train will reach Shivamogga Town at 3.55 am the next day. It will have an AC tier-II and tier-III each and seven sleeper class and three general second class coaches will stop at Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Bangarpet, Krishnarajapuram, Banaswadi, Chikbanavar, Tumkur, Arsikere, Kadur, Birur, Tarikere and Badravati, a statement issued by SR said.

Train no 12697/12698 MGR Chennai Central – Trivandrum Central weekly super-fast expresses will be provided two-minute stoppage at Chengannur for the benefit of Sabiramala pilgrims. Train no 12697 will arrive Chengannur at 3.48 am and depart at 3.50 am from November 17, 2019 to January 12, 2020. Train no 12698 will arrive Chengannur at 10.22 pm and depart at 10.24 pm from November 16 to January 18, 2020. Also, a special fare special train would be operated from Coimbatore to Santragachi to clear extra rush of passengers. Train no 02844 will leave Coimbatore at 9.45 pm on November 15, 22 and 29, and reach Santragachi at 8.45 am on the following Sunday. The train comprising 12 AC tier-III and four sleeper class coaches would stop at Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Katpadi, Perambur, Sullurpeta, Gudur, Nellore, Ongole, Tenali, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Tuni, Duvvada, Simhachalam North, Kottavalasa, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Sompeta, Berhampur, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, NagajMarathapur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Kharagpur.