RTC to cut services by 50% post metro

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation will reduce its services in Greater Hyderabad by 50 per cent after the Metro Rail is commissioned and will divert the buses it takes off, to areas that are not connected to the Metro Rail.

At present, 3,777 buses ply in the Greater Hyderabad Zone, of which nearly 400 are in the depots for repairs every day.

The Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited has announced that it will commence phase-I of the Metro service, from Nagole to Miyapur, and that RTC will then reduce its regular services along this route by 50 per cent.

Executive Director of RTC (Greater Hyderabad Zone), A Purushotham Naik, said that the corporation will focus on providing connectivity to Metro stations from various parts of the city. “We will not have particular buses between Nagole and Miyapur as the route is covered by the LB Nagar-Lingampally service. But we will operate 50 per cent of the buses along this corridor for disabled and elderly commuters. The Metro provides a lift and escalator for reaching stations, but not getting down from them. Passengers have to climb down the steps from the stations, which is an impediment to old and disabled commuters,” he said.

Mr Naik said that Kushaiguda-Afzalgunj, Uppal-Secunderabad, Miyapur-Secunderabad are major RTC corridors. “We operate 10 services between Uppal and Secunderabad, and 22 services between Miyapur and Secunderabad. After the commencement of the Metro Rail between Nagole and Miyapur, we will reduce regular buses by 50 per cent on these corridors and will shift them to new routes,” he said. He also said that after 100 per cent of the Metro Rail is completed, the RTC will reschedule all city routes. “Currently, the available buses in Greater Hyderabad Zone are more than enough for the city’s requirements. We don't need any more new buses, just old buses to be replaced,” he said.