With Maha Shivratri falling on a Sunday, Tamil Nadu’s transport department is pulling out all stops to accommodate the pilgrimage rush. In a major announcement, 1,240 special buses will roll out from Chennai to key temple towns and beyond, addressing the predictable spike in passenger numbers. This fleet is poised to prevent bottlenecks and deliver hassle-free journeys for fervent Shiva devotees.
Devotees are set to flock to sacred sites including Tiruvannamalai for its iconic Girivalam, alongside Tiruchi, Madurai, and coastal hubs like Kumbakonam and Nagercoil. The bulk of operations will hub at Kilambakkam terminal, dispatching 125 dedicated buses, while Koyambedu adds 55 more to routes like Velankanni and Bengaluru. The timetable intensifies ahead of the festival: 500 services Friday, peaking at 550 on Saturday.
State corporations have synchronized efforts, with Express Transport lining up 100 daily runs from industrial cities such as Coimbatore and Erode. Madhavaram chimes in with 20 southern-bound buses per day. These additions smartly distribute the load from standard schedules, minimizing delays and enhancing comfort.
Looking ahead, return trips are charted from festival hotspots back to urban centers, ensuring smooth homeward bound travel post-rituals. Transport leaders assure on-demand scaling, ready to deploy extras as needed. This well-orchestrated response to festival fervor not only streamlines mobility but also reflects efficient governance, letting spiritual pursuits take center stage amid the revelry. Expect a significant uplift in travel satisfaction for lakhs of participants.