PATHANAMTHITTA: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced special bus operations to accommodate thousands of devotees attending the annual Pongala festival at the famed Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple. The transport department is making comprehensive travel arrangements to ensure smooth connectivity for pilgrims arriving from various parts of the state.
This year’s Chakkulathukavu Pongala festival is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 24. Anticipating a massive surge in footfall, transportation authorities have taken steps to extend existing routes and deploy extra services. Detailed schedules and departure timings for the special buses will be made available at key KSRTC depots across districts.
To review basic infrastructure and safety arrangements, an inter-departmental evaluation meeting chaired by the District Collector will be held at the Alappuzha Collectorate at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, November 17. The meeting will coordinate operational plans regarding crowd safety, traffic control, drinking water supply, sanitation, and emergency medical support surrounding the temple zone.
The festival authorities confirmed that the main Pongala ceremony will be observed on November 24, 2026. Commuters and devotees planning to travel via public transport are advised to verify exact bus schedules and depot departure timings directly with KSRTC authorities prior to their journey.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com