Hyderabad city bus fares under fire, TGSRTC faces public backlash
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad City bus commuters are concerned about rising costs and declining public transport quality in Telangana. Software engineer Sumanth Reddy’s social media post criticizing the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has highlighted an affordability and service crisis that affects low- and middle-income residents most.
The post, which tags Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and the TGSRTC official handle, argues that repeated fare hikes make daily commuting unsustainable for ordinary citizens and are not justified by better service.
In addition to that, Reddy explained the issues commuters face daily to HyderabadMail. He notes that a 40 km journey from CBS to Bibinagar now costs Rs 60, while a 10 km trip from Uppal to Panama Godowns costs Rs 40. He argues this pricing structure fails the basic principle that public transport must remain accessible.
The plea sharply questions the logic of shifting financial burdens onto the public. “They can continue the Mahalakshmi scheme, but don’t burden the common man when the government can bear the losses. Why pass it on to patrons?” Reddy asks, urging authorities to “think from the ground up, not like extortion.”
Beyond ticket prices
The appeal goes beyond fares, describing a public transport system struggling with operational and infrastructural challenges. Reddy told HyderabadMail about inadequate bus frequency and criticized the focus on replacement instead of expanding the fleet. He also questions the efficiency of running premium City Ordinary or Metro Express buses on long, traffic-clogged routes where their speed advantage is lost. Basic cleanliness on buses is reportedly compromised.
Further, he also highlights a lack of passenger information systems and little effort by conductors to explain special travel passes, such as the T-24 ticket.
Moreover, Reddy’s message is not just a complaint but a call for reform. He urges the state to look at models like Chennai, which reportedly caps fares and maintains strong frequency. He recommends expanding the bus fleet to meet demand, re-evaluating route planning and bus deployment based on real-time passenger data, and improving last-mile connectivity with metro and MMTS services.
Reddy concludes his appeal with a direct request to Minister Prabhakar: “Please restore the best experience for RTC patrons.” He emphasizes that we get neither the frequency nor affordable fares and AC buses. Global standards should be followed to represent Telangana as a global destination”
