TGSRTC Runs 5,000 Special Buses for Festival Rush Amid Higher Fares

Major bus stations across Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana experienced heavy crowds on Friday as travelers headed to their hometowns for Raksha Bandhan and the extended weekend.

Key transit points in the city, including Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS), Jubilee Bus Station (JBS), LB Nagar, and Uppal, began seeing large passenger turnout starting Thursday evening. Travel routes heading towards Medak, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Kamareddy were among the most congested.

To accommodate the high festival travel demand, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) deployed approximately 5,000 special bus services. These special operations will run until August 31, featuring around 240 more buses compared to the corresponding period last year.

Despite the additional arrangements, commuters expressed frustration over pricing, complaining that fares on the special services were up to 50 percent higher than regular rates. Some travelers reported that they only found out about the increased ticket prices at the time of boarding.

Addressing the fare increases, a senior TGSRTC official stated that the corporation is authorized to charge up to 1.5 times the standard fare on festival special services under Government Order (GO) No 16, issued in 2003. The official noted that the additional charges help the corporation cover fuel and maintenance expenses incurred during special operations.