Apache httpd service fails to start due to timeout

Issue

• When Apache HTTPD is started manually using httpd -k start command , httpd processes are up and running and serves requests. But when the same is started through systemctl command, the apache failed to start and timeout with below error messages:

Mar 06 16:46:25 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: Starting The Apache HTTP Server...
Mar 06 16:47:55 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: httpd.service start operation timed out. Terminating.
Mar 06 16:49:26 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: httpd.service stop-final-sigterm timed out. Killing.
Mar 06 16:49:26 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: httpd.service: main process exited, code=killed, status=9/KILL
Mar 06 16:49:26 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: Failed to start The Apache HTTP Server.
Mar 06 16:49:26 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: Unit httpd.service entered failed state.
Mar 06 16:49:26 abc.xyz.com systemd[1]: httpd.service failed.