Harish Rao Alleges Festive Bus Fare Hike, TGSRTC Denies Charges
BRS leader T. Harish Rao alleged higher festival bus fares, while TGSRTC denied the charges, citing a 2003 government order and 7,000 additional buses for Dasara.
Former minister and BRS deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao on Sunday accused the government of burdening passengers with higher bus fares during the Bathukamma and Dasara festivals. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has denied the allegations, stating that the fares were being regulated according to rules.
Harish Rao alleged that the corporation had reduced regular bus services and was charging higher fares in the name of operating special buses. He claimed that a ticket from Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) to Karimnagar, which normally cost `230, was being sold for `400. Similarly, he alleged that fares from Mahbubnagar to the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) had increased from `220 to over `290 for the special services.
He questioned the practice of providing free bus travel to women under the Mahalakshmi scheme while charging higher fares to other passengers. He argued that the additional burden would ultimately affect families travelling together.
Harish Rao further alleged that the government had increased RTC fares five times during its nearly three-year tenure and demanded that the festival fare hikes be withdrawn. He also called for regular bus services to continue without placing an additional financial burden on poor and middle-class passengers.
In response, TGSRTC said the allegations regarding fare hikes and the reduction of regular services were incorrect. The corporation stated that fare-related decisions during festivals were being taken according to rules based on a government order (GO) issued in the year 2003.
The corporation said the Mahalakshmi scheme, which provides free bus travel to women, was continuing across the state and that measures had been taken to ensure passengers did not face inconvenience.
TGSRTC also denied Harish Rao’s charge of reducing bus services during Dasara, stating that it had arranged 7,000 additional buses to meet the festival rush. According to the corporation, it had operated 97 per cent of the additional services planned since October 10.
The corporation said senior officials were regularly reviewing the arrangements to ensure smooth services during the festive season. It reiterated that providing better and quality transport services remained its priority.