FESTIVE BONANZA
Absence of Diwali spl trains sends bookings on govt buses zooming
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:15.10..2019
With no announcement on special trains yet, a record number of passengers booked seats on government special buses to be operated during the Diwali week.
According to official data, the state transport department has so far made ₹2.5 crore through reservations made by 51,200 passengers till date. Not even three-fourths of this was reported a week before the festival last year.
Tickets for all south-bound express trains including Pandian, Nellai and Pearl City Expresses were sold out in less than 15 minutes after the counter was opened four months ago.
Tatkal option opens only a day before the date of journey. This coupled with uncertainty on special trains has made those looking for affordable options to book government buses, said G Raj, a native of Coimbatore, who now resides in Mandaveli.
Last year, Diwali was celebrated on November 7. But announcement on special trains came out a month before ie, October 4.
“Unlike last year, government has replaced many old buses with air-conditioned sleeper and seater coaches. So, it is better to travel in them instead of paying ₹2,000 or more to private omni bus operators for similar service,” he added.
The government earlier announced that it would be operating more than 19,500 special buses during the Diwali week. Of this, 10,940 will leave from Chennai to different parts of the state between October 24 and 26.
Around 30 special reservation counters to book tickets for these buses will open at CMBT Koyambedu, Tambaram Sanatorium Bus Stand, Tambaram Railway Station Madhavaram Bus Terminus and Poonamalle Bus Stand from October 23.
Meanwhile, these tickets can be booked online via www.tnstc.in (official website) or www.redbus.in, www.paytm.com and www.busindia.com.
Similar arrangements have been made for travel from other parts of the state to Chennai after Diwali. These tickets too can be booked online now.
Traffic diversions in the city, introduced during previous Diwali and Pongal seasons, will be followed this year too.
Absence of Diwali spl trains sends bookings on govt buses zooming
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:15.10..2019
With no announcement on special trains yet, a record number of passengers booked seats on government special buses to be operated during the Diwali week.
According to official data, the state transport department has so far made ₹2.5 crore through reservations made by 51,200 passengers till date. Not even three-fourths of this was reported a week before the festival last year.
Tickets for all south-bound express trains including Pandian, Nellai and Pearl City Expresses were sold out in less than 15 minutes after the counter was opened four months ago.
Tatkal option opens only a day before the date of journey. This coupled with uncertainty on special trains has made those looking for affordable options to book government buses, said G Raj, a native of Coimbatore, who now resides in Mandaveli.
Last year, Diwali was celebrated on November 7. But announcement on special trains came out a month before ie, October 4.
“Unlike last year, government has replaced many old buses with air-conditioned sleeper and seater coaches. So, it is better to travel in them instead of paying ₹2,000 or more to private omni bus operators for similar service,” he added.
The government earlier announced that it would be operating more than 19,500 special buses during the Diwali week. Of this, 10,940 will leave from Chennai to different parts of the state between October 24 and 26.
Around 30 special reservation counters to book tickets for these buses will open at CMBT Koyambedu, Tambaram Sanatorium Bus Stand, Tambaram Railway Station Madhavaram Bus Terminus and Poonamalle Bus Stand from October 23.
Meanwhile, these tickets can be booked online via www.tnstc.in (official website) or www.redbus.in, www.paytm.com and www.busindia.com.
Similar arrangements have been made for travel from other parts of the state to Chennai after Diwali. These tickets too can be booked online now.
Traffic diversions in the city, introduced during previous Diwali and Pongal seasons, will be followed this year too.
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