7,000 RTC buses deployed for Dasara

With Dasara festivities round the corner, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) on Wednesday said it would press into service as many as 7,000 special buses.

According to the TGSRTC, a total of 3,533 buses will be operated from the Karimnagar zone: 431 from Adilabad, 719 from, Nizamabad , 1,175 from Karimnagar, 530 from Warangal, and 678 from Khammam regions.

From the Hyderabad zone, 2,155 buses will be operated. This includes 645 from Mahabubnagar, 255 from Medak 255, 815 from Nalgonda, and 440 from Ranga Reddy .

As a step towards augmentation of services 1,312 special buses are scheduled to run from the Greater Hyderabad Zone. “Passenger traffic is expected to be particularly heavy on October 9, 10, 16, and 17,” officials said.

TGSRTC management has planned to make special buses available in accordance with the anticipated rush on these days. Efforts are under way to make arrangements for passengers returning home. Traffic of this sort is expected on October 25 and 26 .

Special buses will be operational from areas areas in Hyderabad such as MGBS, JBS, Uppal, Aramghar, LB Nagar Cross Roads, KPHB, Bowenpally, and Gachibowli.

Facilities such as pandals, canopies, chairs, public address systems, drinking water arrangements, and mobile toilets are being set up in these areas for the convenience of passengers.

TGSRTC management clarified that in 2003, the State government issued GO No 16 which authorised the corporation to adjust ticket fares up to 1.5 times the standard rate to cover the minimum diesel and operational costs incurred for these special buses. This flexibility applies exclusively to special buses operated during festivals and special occasions.

These revised fares apply only to special buses running within Telangana and to other States. The revised fares will be in effect on October 9, 10, 16, 17, 25 and 26, when traffic is expected to be heavy. Normal fares will continue to apply to regular buses, excluding the special services.