Transport troubles are all set to return for Tirumala devotees as the joint action committee of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) employees have again decided to stop bus services to the temple town from the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

The decision came after the protesting AP NGOs decided to intensify their stir with a slew of agitations in the next two weeks.

RTC bus services and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) employees on temple duty in Tirumala were exempted earlier from the blanket strike called to oppose the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. But the gesture was withdrawn following serious displeasure expressed by the AP NGOs Union at its meeting in Guntur on Friday.

Effectively, the RTC JAC decided to again stop all bus services between Tirupathi and Tirumala. The move is sure to impact the three-day Srivari Pavithrotsavams, set to begin from Saturday (August 17).

Influx of devotees to the hill shrine has taken a hit in the last few days after the SRTC workers joined the AP NGOs’ strike on August 12. Even after the union leaders agreed to exempt Tirumala from the ambit of strike, only 300 buses are being operated.

Besides the low turnout of devotees, TTD is also losing out on hundi collections, which have registered a steady decline during the last week.

The RTC union leaders have also issued an ultimatum to private operators, having a field day in the absence of corporation buses. They were asked to keep their vehicles off the roads and join their stir. In a voluntary gesture, private vehicle operators have announced a 24-hour strike.