Hyderabad to get 75 more Metro Deluxe buses
HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has decided to introduce 75 more Metro Deluxe buses in Greater Hyderabad as overcrowding in Ordinary and Metro Express services leaves many male passengers struggling to find space.
Women account for nearly 80% occupancy on many Ordinary and Express buses following the introduction of the Mahalakshmi free travel scheme, according to the source. The increased passenger load has left men struggling even to find standing space. At times, they are unable to board buses.
Some male passengers have been opting for Metro Deluxe services despite the higher fares, but the limited number of these buses means they too are often crowded. TGSRTC has now decided to add 75 Metro Deluxe buses to improve availability.
Demand grows for Metro Deluxe services across Hyderabad
Greater Hyderabad currently has about 3,200 buses, of which only 275 are Metro Deluxe services. Ordinary and Metro Express buses account for a larger share of the fleet and are being used extensively by women under the Mahalakshmi scheme.
As a result, male passengers have increasingly been turning to Hyderabad Metro Rail, Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) trains, cabs and autorickshaws. This has also affected TGSRTC’s ticket revenue, according to the source.
With the existing Metro Deluxe buses also witnessing heavy passenger loads, the corporation plans to introduce another 75 buses.
TGSRTC officials said the Mahalakshmi free travel scheme would not apply to Metro Deluxe services. Only passengers buying tickets or holding valid bus passes can travel on these buses.
Officials said demand would be reviewed after a few months. More buses could be introduced if the additional fleet is found inadequate.
Metro Deluxe buses planned on 45 long routes
Officials are also planning to operate the Metro Deluxe fleet on longer routes. They said long-distance services would reduce the need for passengers to repeatedly change buses during a journey.
The proposed services include Mehdipatnam-Shamshabad, Central Bus Station-Shankarpally, Secunderabad-Ramayampet, Medchal-Kokapet, Hayathnagar-Jubilee Bus Station, Dilsukhnagar-Choutuppal, Mehdipatnam-Chilkur Balaji Temple, Uppal-Mehdipatnam, Cherlapally-Patancheru, Secunderabad-Ibrahimpatnam, Central Bus Station-Gandimaisamma, Secunderabad-Cherlapally, Jubilee Bus Station-Ibrahimpatnam, Secunderabad-Manikonda and Uppal-Patancheru.
Officials said Metro Deluxe buses would operate on a total of 45 long routes.
The addition of 75 buses to the existing fleet is expected to increase the number of trips and make more services available in line with passenger demand.
