The Albion Passenger Bus was in service by Nizam government
Deccan Queen on the new bus stand premises (Photo: DC)
Vijayawada: The Albion Passenger Bus aka Deccan Queen, a 1932 model bus used in passenger service by the Nizam government of Hyderabad Kingdom is drawing attention of hundreds of passengers in the Pandit Nehru Bus Station. It is the sole proof of the transport system in olden days.
Deccan Queen, an Albion bus, which is a heritage asset of Nizam State Rail and Road Transport Department (NSR-RTD), is kept at Pandit Nehru bus station in the city. The NSR-RTD operated 27 Albion buses in 1932 all through the Nizam state as part of the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR).
“At present, only two of these buses exist. While one bus is at RTC administrative headquarters in Hyderabad, the other one is in Vijayawada, brought here when the bus station opened, two decades back,” said Mr Sudhakar, who is looking after the maintenance of this old heritage.
During the time of state bifurcation protests, the Hyderabad-based heritage activists demanded the Vijayawada APSRTC depot authorities to send the Deccan Queen back to Telangana. But, the officials have decided to keep it in Vijayawada as it is the only bus that was used in the Krishna region for transportation and is the cynosure of all eyes.
“The Albion bus will have to be in Vijayawada as the Hyderabad headquarters has a similar asset of the same period,” said APSRTC Vijayawada zone executive director R Naga Raju, earlier when the allegations was rife on the issue.
Many passengers, who are travelling through Vijayawada, were seen excited to see how the RTC buses have transformed, since the olden periods. “We are very excited to see old buses like these,” said a female passenger.
Officials have taken the special care of the bus to reminisce the glory of the era gone by. “'This is our history and we have preserved it for the future generation.” said RTC regional manager P.V. Rama Rao.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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