Passengers are facing significant hardships due to recent decisions made by TSRTC. With buses being canceled without prior notice, travelers find themselves stranded for hours, especially during holidays when there’s an expectation of lower ridership.
Despite RTC management’s emphasis on online ticketing and travel apps, criticisms abound regarding the lack of transparency in communicating bus cancellations. The change of schedules are only disseminated through WhatsApp groups for drivers, conductors, and officials.
During the recent Ugadi festival, passengers scheduled to arrive home by 6:30 PM found themselves not reaching their destinations until 11 PM due to reduced bus services. Many passengers have expressed frustration at having to resort to costly private vehicles, with fares skyrocketing up to three times the normal rate.
Even those with bus passes, primarily individuals with private jobs, were compelled to opt for private transportation. Despite complaints, local RTC depot managers claim they are powerless to address the situation.
Despite soaring temperatures, passengers are showing limited interest in boarding AC buses across the Greater Hyderabad area. The authorities had hoped for increased patronage with rising heat, but the reality differs. Criticism mounts against RTC for not operating AC buses on high-demand routes, particularly those outside the IT corridor.
Passengers express disappointment over the lack of AC buses on popular routes like Mehidipatnam – Secunderabad, LB Nagar – Secunderabad, Miyapur – Koti, Mehidipatnam – Koti, and Uppal – Kukatpally, known for heavy traffic congestion. Although RTC officials claim to be taking measures to boost occupancy on AC buses, the anticipated response has yet to materialize.