With APSRTC and private buses, taxis and even lorries going off the roads and hotels remaining closed, pilgrims had a difficult day. The protesters exempted free buses operated by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) from railway station to Tirumala from bandh. However, as the rush was heavy, authorities could not provide transport facility to all. The TTD supplied food to pilgrims as restaurants were closed.
The APSRTC has not been running buses to Tirupati from other parts of the state due to the ongoing samaikyandhra agitation. The few buses plying between Alipiri and Tirumala did not provide any relief to pilgrims. Normal life was paralysed in the temple town as all sections of the society participated in the agitation. Even autorickhaws did not ply. Candlelight rallies were held in the evening. At some places Krishnashtami was celebrated on roads to lodge protest against the bifurcation move. With city buses too joining the protest, even the locals could not visit Lord Krishna temples to offer special prayers.
"I had planned to go to temple on Krishnashtami with family. I am forced to pray at home as there is no transport in the town due to the blockade. This is the first time that a major blockade is being observed in the temple town," said V Ramswami, a retired TTD employee.
Tirupati Cab Association, which runs around 2500 cabs, joined the agitation further causing trouble to pilgrims. Alipiri road, which otherwise is busy with nearly 5,000 vehicles plying, appeared deserted throughout the day. "The bandh will be observed on Thursday too. Every citizen in Tirupati has supported our call," S Rajareddy, Samaikyandhra JAC president told TOI.
Devotees who alighted at railway station had a tough time in reaching Alipiri as the TTD arranged only 13 special buses. Though JAC had agreed to allow vehicles from railway staion to Alipiri, devotees had to wait for long hours at the station. "I came with my family that includes three-year-old daughter. We had to wait for two hours to catch the TTD bus to Alipiri," Burra Vijay from Warangal said.
Police officers diverted vehicles from airport to Alipiri via Karkambadi and Kapilateerdham. Vehicles from Bangalore were diverted through Cherlopalli and zoo parki. APSRTC has been operating only 50 buses as against the normal 600 buses.
Only 28,000 devotees could reach Tirumala on Wednesday. "We had easy darshan. But it took nearly five hours for us to reach Alipiri. We could not get food or water due to the bandh," said a pilgrim V Kameswari.
Police said the bandh was complete and peaceful. "Except for a little traffic jam due to rasta roko at Gajulamanyam, everything went smoothly" Chittoor urban SP Rajasekhar said. As people are voluntarily participating in the bandh, even two wheelers were not seen on the roads, he added.
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