Hyderabad: With thousands of people likely to leave Hyderabad and other cities for their hometowns for Dasara, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has lined up 7,000 special buses to handle the festival rush, with additional services to be deployed on routes witnessing heavy demand. However, it will collect a high fare on these services.The corporation expects the peak outward rush from Friday, while a major rush is likely on the return journey on Oct 25 and 26. Buses would be increased or shifted between routes depending on passenger demand on these days, officials said.Passengers travelling in special buses, however, would have to pay higher fares. TGSRTC has revised fares by up to 1.5 times for special services operating within Telangana and to other states. The revised fares would apply only on Oct 9, 10, 16 and 17 and on Oct 25 and 26, when the corporation expects heavy passenger movement.The fare revision is based on a 2003 govt order (GO No. 16), which allows the corporation to revise fares in special buses operated during major festivals and special occasions to meet additional diesel and operational costs. TGSRTC said the provision has been followed for major festivals since the erstwhile combined RTC and has continued after the formation of TGSRTC.The higher fare, however, would not apply to regular services. Regular bus fares would remain unchanged during the festival period.“Of the 7,000 special services planned, 3,533 will be operated from the Karimnagar zone. These include 431 buses from Adilabad region, 719 from Nizamabad, 1,175 from Karimnagar, 530 from Warangal and 678 from Khammam,” TGSRTC managing director Y Nagi Reddy said.The Hyderabad zone would operate another 2,155 special buses, including 645 from Mahabubnagar, 255 from Medak, 815 from Nalgonda and 440 from Rangareddy regions. The Greater Hyderabad zone would operate 1,312 special services to cater to the rush within and around the city.In Hyderabad, special buses would be operated from major passenger points, including MGBS, JBS, Uppal (Nalla Cheruvu), Aramghar, LB Nagar Crossroads, KPHB, Bowenpally and Gachibowli. The corporation would also arrange pandals, shamianas, chairs, public address systems, drinking water and mobile toilets at key locations to manage the crowd.TGSRTC officials said buses would also be repositioned during the return journey. If special buses deployed on a particular route see little demand, they would be brought back quickly and used on routes where passenger numbers are higher.The RTC MD said women would continue to travel free under the state govt’s Mahalakshmi scheme in Palle Velugu, Express, City Ordinary and Metro Express services, including regular and special buses operated for Dasara.Passengers can make advance bookings on the TGSRTC website. The corporation has also asked those travelling to their hometowns for Dasara to contact its call centres at 040-69440000 and 040-23450033 for information on special services.
Source link
