Transport Secretary inspects temporary bus termini in Tiruvannamalai for Karthigai Deepam

L. Nirmal Raj, Secretary, Department of Transport, inspect a temporary bus terminus in Tiruvannamalai town in the presence of Collector Vandhana Garg and other officials on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The district administration has set up 26 temporary bus termini on the outskirts of Tiruvannamalai town with over 4,500 special buses, which will be operated between November 22 and 25 for Karthigai Deepam festival.

Officials of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) said that as part of preparatory works for the festival, L. Nirmal Raj, Secretary, Department of Transport, inspected a few temporary bus termini in the presence of Collector Vandhana Garg, S. Sridharan, Managing Director, TNSTC, and G. Kalaiselvan, deputy general manager (Commercial), TNSTC (Tiruvannamalai). “Basic amenities at the temporary bus termini will be done by the civic body. Additional sanitary workers will be roped in to keep the temple town clean during the festival,” K. Balasubramanian, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu. 

The transport department will operate 180 shuttle services from the bus termini to the 14-km Girivalam path and the Arunachaleswara temple. Private vehicles will not be allowed to enter town, especially during Maha Deepam day, to avoid congestion. Each commuter will be charged ₹10 for these services.

Vehicles will be allowed to park in over 100 car parking lots that are away from the town. The parking space can accommodate around 20,000 vehicles. Jute mats will be laid upto a distance of two km, for visitors to beat the heat. Children at the festival will have wrist bands for safety.

As part of security arrangements, more than 15,000 police personnel, including those who will man 26 watch towers, will be deployed, especially on Maha Deepam day (November 24). Around 700 AI cameras will be set up for better surveillance during the festival. As per estimates, around 45 lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple town during the festival. 

To ensure the safety of visitors, two centralised control rooms at the Collectorate and SP office will be set up to monitor over 1,000 CCTV cameras round-the-clock. Around 450 firefighters with 24 water tenders will be deployed.

The fortnight-long festival includes hoisting of the holy flag at the Arunachaleswarar temple on November 15. Every day, deities will be taken on processions in different chariots along the Mada Streets around the temple. One of the highlights of the celebrations is the lighting of the Maha Deepam atop the 2,668-ft. hillock. This will be followed by a three-day float festival (Theppa Thiruvizha).

Published - November 15, 2026 05:30 am IST