Travel firms cash in on Sankranti festival rush to Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: There is a huge rush for the return journey after the Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh, and private travel companies have steeply increased fares. A family of four has to spend Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 on travel, turning the Sankranti festival into one of the most expensive celebrations of the year. 

The AP State Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates 1,100 special buses and charges 50 per cent extra fare for the return journey. The railways too run special trains. The buses and trains are running full as people return home after visiting their relatives or native places as is the tradition. People living in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana state visit their native places in Andhra Pradesh without fail every Sankranti. Buses are the usual mode of transport.

Mr G. Srinath, who works in Hyderabad, says he pays Rs 10,000 for the bus fare to Vijayawada and back for his family. He was planning to return on Sunday but there was such a huge rush, that seats in APSRTC buses were unavailable and he had to pay Rs 1,000 to Rs 1500 per ticket on private buses which has spoilt 
the happiness of the festival.   

Mr G.S. Krishna Rao, a native of Guntur who lives in Bengaluru with his wife and two children, comes to his native place for Sankranti every year. He says it is getting more expensive to travel now with fares going up for major festivals. He spent Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 on travel during Dasara in October. A ticket to Guntur from Bengaluru costs Rs 700 in ordinary buses and Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,300 in AC buses on normal days but increased to Rs 1,500 in ordinary buses and Rs 2,300 to Rs 3,500 in AC buses on October 19 and January 20 due to increased demand. APSRTC has arranged extra buses to cope with the increased demand till January 20.