TNSTC starts Navagraha temple tour, may begin Arupadai Veedu bus service

TRICHY: Transport minister S S Sivasankar on Saturday launched the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) temple tour bus service covering Navagraha temples (planetary deities) in and around the Cauvery delta districts in a day.

Stating that the reception for the maiden service was overwhelming, the minister said TNSTC was considering a similar bus service to cover six prominent temples (Arupadai Veedu or six abodes) of lord Murugan in various districts.

Inaugurating the maiden Navagraha temples bus service at the Kumbakonam bus stand, the minister Sivasankar said, “We will continue the special bus service for Navagraha temples as online tickets were sold out for the entire month. A similar itinerary is being charted for connecting six major Murugan temples in the state.” Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruchendur, Thirupparankundram, Pazhamudhircholai and Tiruttani are the six destinations considered.

Unlike the Navagraha temple tour which shall be completed in a day, the proposed Arupadai Veedu bus service will take a few days involving different divisions of TNSTC.

Officials said the ticket for the day-long trip to Navagraha temples has been priced at Rs 750 per head. One of the newly inducted Bharat Stage (BS-VI) buses was allotted for the journey. The bus tour would cover a total distance of 296 km and the travel time alone is estimated to run for 6.5 hours.

Passengers will be permitted to spend 30 minutes to 2 hours at each of the nine temples. This includes breakfast and lunch breaks.

The trip would commence at Kumbakonam bus stand at 6am on weekends. After covering all temples, the bus will return to Kumbakonam by 7.30pm.


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