Sanskranti Rush Doubles Bus Fares to AP Cities
It is estimated that around 1,000 private buses operate from Hyderabad to destinations such as Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Anantapur, Visakhapatnam and Kakinada during the festival
Hyderabad: Passengers opting for private buses to travel home for Sankranti are being forced to pay almost double the usual fares as demand peaks.
Though the transport department has warned private bus operators against exorbitant charges, officials admit that in the absence of a government-mandated fare structure, enforcement remains difficult — a fact that even operators are aware of.
During the festive season, the transport department carried out special drives and imposed fines on nearly 300 buses for various violations. Only a handful of cases pertained to overcharging passengers.
Experts said the department should introduce a fixed fare mechanism to provide clarity, enable easier penalisation of violators and empower passengers to question unreasonable pricing.
Vijay Kumar, a private employee, said last-minute travel leaves commuters at the mercy of private operators. “We cannot always plan in advance because of work. Private buses are the only option. From Hyderabad to Vijayawada, the fare has doubled — `1,200 for a seat against the regular `600, and `2,000 for a sleeper instead of `1,000. Every year, we go through the same ordeal,” he said.
Sankranti is one of the major festivals in both Telugu states, where people like to celebrate it in their villages. It is estimated that around 1,000 private buses operate from Hyderabad to destinations such as Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Anantapur, Visakhapatnam and Kakinada during the festival.
A transport department official said operators often issue tickets reflecting regular fares. “There is no government-fixed rate. If we come to know that fares are exorbitant, we will certainly take action,” the official said.
Mohammad Arshad, a private bus operator, said operators were not in favour of excessive pricing but cited operational challenges. “On regular days, buses run with low occupancy. Even on the return journey during festivals, seats remain vacant. That is why RTC charges 1.5 times the fare for its festival special buses,” he said.
