TSRTC suspends discounted bus tickets for commuters in Hyderabad’s suburbs; Here’s the reason

India

Hyderabad: As of early 2024, Telangana’s State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has had to reconsider two special fare reductions within the urban scope of Hyderabad. Why this shift? It is a response to the influx of travelers due to the newly introduced free rides for women. The goal is simple: prevent overcrowding and improve everyone’s journey. While it is inevitable that frequent travelers will find this disruptive, it is an essential step to cope with increased passenger numbers and keep bus services on track. Remember, TSRTC always places passenger convenience and safety at the top of its priority list.

TSRTC Director Announces Cancellation of Free Ticket Test

TSRTC director VC Sajjanar on Sunday announced that Family-24 and T-6 tickets will be completely suspended from January 1. He said the decision was taken in the wake of increased passenger traffic due to the implementation of the Mahalakshmi scheme.

Sajjanar explained that to issue Family-24 and T-6 tickets, the conductors have to see the passengers’ identity cards and enter their age. “Due to the increase in traffic due to the Mahalakshmi scheme, the conductors are taking a lot of time to issue Family-24 and T-6 tickets. This also increases the travel time for the services. Due to inconvenience, the organization has decided to withdraw Family-24 and T-6 tickets. These tickets will not be issued tomorrow,” he said.

On December 9, the new Congress government in Telangana started implementing the Mahalakshmi scheme, which offers free travel for women in TSRTC buses across the state. The women can travel for free in Palle Velugu and Express category buses in districts and in City Ordinary and Metro Express buses within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. In March, the TSRTC introduced T-6 and Family-24 tickets for affordable and convenient travel options in Hyderabad.

The T-6 ticket, available for women and senior citizens, provided discounted travel options for those traveling on City Ordinary and Metro Express buses within the outskirts of Hyderabad between 10am and 4pm.

The price of the T-6 ticket was Rs 50, significantly lower than the regular fares. The F-24 ticket is designed for groups of family and friends who want to travel together. It costs Rs 300 and was launched for those who want to travel in groups of four within the outskirts of Hyderabad on weekends and holidays. The F-24 ticket allowed travelers to use the City Ordinary and Metro Express buses for 24 hours from the time of purchase.

(With input from agencies)