Vizianagaram, March 02: The State Road Transport Corporation will operate 400 special services to Punyagiri, Ramatheerthalu, Parammakonda, Srimukhalingam, Sanyasayyapalem, Gumpa and other Siva temples from all its nine depots in the North-East Coast Region comprising Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri celebrations on Wednesday and Thursday, according to RTC sources.
The sources said that 20 per cent additional fare would be collected from passengers travelling by the special services.
Police made elaborate bandobust at Punyagiri, Ramatheethalu and Parammakonda. Over 150 constables were deployed from the three police sub-divisions at the temples to avert untoward incidents. The temples have been spruced up, illuminated and barricades erected .
At Ramatheerthalu, according to Executive Officer N.V.S.N. Murty, over two lakh devotees were expected to offer prayers on this day.
Special darshan
Besides, free darshan, Rs. 10 for tonsuring heads and Rs.25 for special darshan have been fixed.
At Punyagiri, arrangements have been made to receive 60,000 devotees. Inspector R. Govinda Rao said that traffic was being regulated from Gandhi Bomma in S. Kota to the foothills of the temple.
-Agencies