TGSRTC announces 6,431 special buses to meet Sankranti rush

Hyderabad

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) on Wednesday stated that they are making thorough arrangements to handle the Sankranti passenger traffic, and would press into service 6,431 special buses.

The State road transport undertaking is expecting a surge in traffic from January 9 to January 13. As a result the management has planned to deploy special services based on demand on those days. With January 18 and January 19 identified as days when passenger activity is expected to peak once again with travellers returning to Hyderabad, similar preparations have been made for the return journey.

According to the transport juggernaut, special buses will be operated from important hubs such as Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS), Jubilee Bus Station (JBS), Uppal Crossroads, Aramghar, L.B. Nagar Crossroads, KPHB, Bowenpally and Gachibowli.

In effort to ease congestion, the TGSRTC will provide seating arrangements, public address systems, drinking water facilities and mobile toilets at these locations.

The corporation has also revised fares for special buses by up to 1.5 times, in accordance with Government Order No. 16 issued in 2003, which permits such revisions to offset diesel and maintenance costs during festival operations. Special services are routinely operated during major festivals to ensure that commuters are not inconvenienced and can travel safely, the stated, adding that while return journeys usually see a relatively lower rush on special buses, the corporation intends to swiftly redeploying empty buses to crowded routes.

Officials said this practice has been followed consistently for major festivals, both during the undivided corporation period and after the formation of TGSRTC. The revised fares will apply only to special services even as regular services will continue to operate at normal fares.

Meanwhile, the Mahalaxmi scheme, which offers free bus travel for women, will remain in force on Palle Velugu, Express, City Ordinary and Metro Express services during the festival period.