KSRTC to operate special services on Aug 12 to balitharpanam centres in Kerala

KSRTC will be operating special services on August 12 to various balitharpanam centres in Kerala on the occasion of 'Karkidaka Vavu Bali', a ritual where people pray for their deceased ancestors in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), in a statement, said the services will start on August 12 at 2 am to 13 balitharpanam centres in the state based on the passenger flow.
In addition to this, additional services have also been arranged from various units of KSRTC as per the needs of passengers, it said.
KSRTC had already made preparations in connection with Karkidaka Vavu Bali based on the instructions issued in various meetings held by state Transport Minister C P John and Devaswoms Minister K Muraleedharan, the statement said.
The transport corporation said that this year more buses will be arranged than in 2025.
This year, 100 buses have been arranged for the special services as compared to 62 in 2025, KSRTC said.
It further said that special squad officers and staff have been assigned in advance at each center to monitor the passenger rush and send special services to the required places in a timely manner.
Additional special buses have been arranged to major balitharpanam centers like Thiruvallam, Varkala, Shankhumugham, Veli, Aruvikkara, Aruvippuram, Kadinamkulam, Thirumullavaram (Kollam), Aluva, Thirunavaya and Thirunelli temple, it said.
KSRTC said that a system has been put in place to increase the number of services or re-arrange and send buses to the required places according to the passenger rush.
(With inputs from PTI)