Tourism Buses Idle After Tirupati Ticket Cancellation

Officials said that earlier there was a provision to procure around 300 darshan tickets daily, which encouraged passengers to book tourism buses for Tirupati trips. However, with the cancellation of this quota, nearly 12 to 15 buses are now idle. The government is currently in talks to secure at least 100 tickets under the ₹300 darshan category per day.

Around 10 older buses are also mostly unused, though efforts are being made to utilise them for events such as marriages and private bookings. The corporation has around 60 drivers, with two assigned per bus, and those not on driving duty are being deployed at boating locations for technical operations, a senior official said. The idle buses are being looked after from time to time for maintenance.

“The assured darshan facility earlier ensured steady bookings, with several buses operating both to and from Tirupati. Now, we are awaiting clarity on ticket allocation,” the official added.

Despite the setback, buses continue to operate to Tirupati, offering transport and accommodation, with passengers returning after darshan. Within Telangana, buses are being used for local tours covering Golconda Fort, Birla Mandir Hyderabad and Salar Jung Museum. The Nizam heritage tour and boating at Lumbini Park are also popular.

Tourism packages to destinations such as Tirupati, Arunachalam, Shirdi, Goa and Bengaluru continue, along with customised travel options. Officials said the buses maintain high safety standards with regular checks and adherence to speed limits, and have recorded zero accidents so far. Partnerships with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation are also being utilised for combined travel packages.