PRTC refers to the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation. It was founded in 1988 as the Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC). However, the entity was bifurcated to tackle transport and tourism separately. The PRTC is currently run by the Government of Puducherry. PRTC services the union territory of Puducherry which includes Mahé, Karaikal, Yanam, and Pondicherry.
Puducherry Road Transport Corporation currently owns a fleet of over 140 inter-state and intra-state buses that service a total of 55 routes. Its focus is to connect towns and cities in the union territory and Tamil Nadu state to Puducherry. Some buses also travel to popular cities, such as Bengaluru and Tirupati, in neighbouring states. You can book PRTC online bus tickets safely and easily on redBus.
Amenities on PRTC
PRTC or Puducherry Road Transport Corporation operates a variety of buses to cater to preferred amenities, budgets, and needs of its passengers. As a result, the types of conveniences you may find onboard a PRTC bus will differ depending on your reservation type. Here is a general list of amenities you may choose to look out for:
- Push-back seats
- Overhead luggage racks
- Luggage storage cabins
- Air-conditioning
- Blankets and pillows
- Televisions
- Window curtains
- Water bottles
- Cellphone charging points
- Glass-breaking hammer
- Fire extinguisher
Popular Routes with PRTC
To make your PRTC bus booking, it would help to learn what the most popular routes are. Please note that these routes are serviced by different buses and at various times, so you might not see all of them for your date of travel. Here are some routes that redBus users frequent:
- Puducherry to Chennai: The Puducherry to Chennai route is approximately 165 kilometres (102.53 miles) long. By bus, it usually takes an average of 3 hours to cover.
- Tindivanam to Puducherry: This route is one of the shortest ones serviced by the PRTC as the distance between Tindivanam and Puducherry is an average of 40 kilometres (24.85 miles). It can be covered in approximately one hour by bus.
- Coimbatore to Puducherry: The distance between Coimbatore and Puducherry by road is approximately 400 kilometres (248.5 miles). It takes an average of 7.5 hours to cover this distance by bus.
- Puducherry to Tirupati: The Puducherry-Tirupati route is an average of 250 kilometres (155.3 miles). It usually takes up to 6 hours by bus to reach the final destination.
Types of PRTC Buses
The PRTC - Puducherry Road Transport Corporation bus fleet consists of a variety of bus types. Although a majority of them are from Ashok Leyland, you will find the occasional Volvo and Scania bus as well. Here are the popular types you can choose from when making a PRTC online reservation:
- AC 2 + 2: This bus type is fully air-conditioned, with air vents for each seat. The 2 + 2 seating plan ensures ample leg space.
- Ultra-Deluxe Push Back: In this bus, you can recline your seats at a comfortable angle to settle in or take a nap. The seats have enough distance between them to prevent cramped legs.
- Express: The 3 + 2 seating plan allows for more passengers to travel at once without compromising on comfort.
Popular Cities with PRTC
The PRTC - Puducherry Road Transport Corporation primarily services Puducherry Union Territory as well as the state of Tamil Nadu. Here are some popular cities for which you can make a PRTC online booking:
- Nagercoil: Nagercoil is perched close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, in the Kanyakumari district. The serene town is a natural wonderland and packed with tourist destinations including Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Thiruparrapu Waterfalls and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
- Chennai: The capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is a historically significant part of India, having served as the East India Company outpost during the British Raj. The city is home to several monuments and architectural marvels including Fort St. George and the 17th-century Anglican church, Saint Mary’s.
- Bengaluru: Also called the Garden City and the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru is the capital city of Karnataka. Puducherry sees frequent travellers to and from this city as it is a hotspot for business and entertainment.
Popular Pilgrimage Destinations with PRTC
- Tirupati: Tirupati is a revered pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh. It is best known for the Sri Venkateshwara Temple that is nestled on of the seven Tirumala Hills peaks. The Chandragiri Fort and Sri Venkateshwara National Park are popular tourist attractions.
- Kapaleeswarar Temple: A Hindu temple built in the name of Lord Shiva, the Kapaleeswarar Temple is situated in Mylapore, Chennai. It is a minimum 6-hour journey from Pondicherry by bus and is a stone’s throw away from the Bay of Bengal coastline.
Is it safe to travel in Puducherry right now?
The Puducherry government has allowed travel in the state due to the reduction in the number of positive cases per day. You can travel in Puducherry via PRTC (Puducherry Road Transport Corporation) buses which take strict safety measures against the ongoing pandemic. PRTC buses travel to many cities of neighbouring states like Chennai, Tindivanam, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Koyambedu, etc. Passengers have to adhere to the travel guidelines laid by the Puducherry government. You have to wear a mask and go through the thermal scanning process for boarding a PRTC bus. You can now know about the live COVID cases update of Puducherry via the state-wise COVID-19 updates of redBus.