Hyderabad: Traffic-Hit Techies Seek More Buses, Shuttles To Ease Congestion

Hyderabad: Commuters in the IT corridor have sought more shuttle services and improved public transport connectivity, particularly during the monsoon when the traffic congestion on the overcrowded roads worsens. Frequent gridlocks during peak hours have highlighted gaps in last-mile connectivity and inadequate public transport options.

S.N. Santosh, an IT employee from Sun City, said, “The traffic load during peak hours is unbearable, and congestion has become a regular topic of discussion among employees. If fast and reliable public transport is available, many of us are ready to use it.”

Industry observers said most companies relied on cab services for employee transport due to cost considerations. Basantam Pandu, a transport expert in the IT corridor, said, “Larger shuttle services such as buses are more expensive and require higher passenger occupancy.” This causes more vehicles to be on the roads, especially during the peak traffic hours from 9.30 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 6.30 pm.

Commuters also pointed to overcrowding in Metro Rail services during the peak hours. Vijay Lakshmi, an IT employee, said, “From 5 pm, stations such as Raidurg, Madhapur and Hitec City become overcrowded. Platforms and coaches are packed, making travel suffocating. That is why many of us prefer personal vehicles or company-provided transport. If better shuttle services or reliable public transport are provided, we will surely use them.”

The Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) operates the SHE Shuttle service aimed at improving last-mile connectivity for women employees. Bhanu Murthy, assistant director of SCSC, said, “The concept was introduced in 2016–17 to improve women’s safety and reduce traffic congestion in the IT corridor. At present, 13 shuttle buses operate in the IT corridor and Genome Valley, providing last-mile connectivity to Metro stations with support from company sponsorships.”

He added that a student mobility service is currently in the testing phase to reduce dependence on autorickshaws and improve safety.

The shuttle system provides connectivity between key hubs such as Hitec City, Raidurg Metro, Gachibowli, Nanakramguda, Madhapur and Kondapur, operating from morning to late night with monitoring and security measures in place.

Srinivas Kollipara of Biome Venture Studio said increased deployment of larger shuttle services and improved public transport integration could help reduce the number of private vehicles on the road. He said companies need to support such measures for effective traffic management.

TGSRTC vice-chairman and managing director Y. Nagi Reddy said the corporation operates an extensive network across the IT corridor. He said, “The corporation provides extensive and reliable public transport connectivity across Hyderabad’s IT corridor, serving thousands of employees, students and residents every day. Major hubs such as Madhapur, Hitec City, Gachibowli, Financial District, Nanakramguda and Kokapet are covered by high-frequency city bus services connecting them to different parts of Hyderabad.”

He added, “Each day, 341 buses operate 3,467 trips across 38 routes, with dedicated services during peak office hours. These services are integrated with major Metro stations, MMTS stations and transport hubs, along with premium air-conditioned buses and airport connectivity through Pushpak services.”