Wednesday was a day of celebration for the residents of Punganur parish and the mandals of Chowdepalle, Somala, Kalikiri and Kalakada in the Chittoor district on Wednesday with the inauguration of an APSRTC bus service between Punganur and Kadapa.
Deputy Chief Traffic Manager (Chittoor) M. Bhaskar said bus service has started from the newly opened depot in Punganur, which covers the rural areas between Punganur and Kalikiri. The official said it was the first time a direct bus operated from Punganur to Kadapa. Previously, people of several western mandalas had to go to Madanapalle or Piler to reach Kadapa.
“Now that the mandalas of Chowdepalle, Somala, Kalikiri and Kalakada are covered, the service currently operated on a pilot basis will connect the regular Rayachoti-Kadapa road,” he said.
Although more than 60 bus services were assigned to the new depot in Punganur, full operation has not yet started due to the ongoing COVID lockdown. Once lockdown restrictions wear off, additional bus services between Punganur and Kadapa would be considered, the official said, adding that this would be very useful for the rural area and would help them avoid traveling to Madanapalle or Piler to reach their destination .