Bus passengers irked by only Telugu signboards

In accordance with Ministry of Urban Development guidelines under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Miss-ion (JNNURM), the corporation had sought mandatory features in buses before floating bus procurement tender in 2013.

Among one of the mandatory guidelines with regard to display characteristics in buses, LED signboard with destination names both in English and Telugu was a must. The purpose was to make the transportation service user-friendly to all irrespective of states.

During a reality check, Deccan Chronicle however found that most of the buses did not have the destination name in English and the buses which had, didn’t have details in English about the places it will pass through, which is also a mandatory feature.

Such apathy on the part of the corporation has only led to the confusion among the commuters, especially outsiders, and is preventing people from taking up bus services. “It is really a tough task to catch the right bus here as the name of the places on the signboard is not written in English. We have to enquire many people to get the information. Even after that the confusion remains in mind till reaching the right place,” said Sameer Patra, a youth from Odisha who frequently visits Vizag to appear for competitive examination.

Sunil Gupta, a youth from Bihar, said, “I prefer autorickshaw to bus here as I can’t read the signboard put up in buses. It is really costly, but I do not have other option left with me. Many a times, I have landed up in wrong places in confusion.” The signboards should have been written both in Telugu and English for the convenience of local people and visitors of other states, said Pruthvi Raj, a local.

When asked about the inconvenience faced by commuters, APSRTC executive director A.P. Rao said he would coordinate with the officials concerned to ensure that all buses would have destination signboard in English as well.