Bus pass holders complain diversion for Pushkaralu

Many bus pass holders have complained about the diversion of buses for special services and due to strikes in the past. In the last 10 days numerous buses have been diverted to Pushkaram destinations and this is giving a tough time to bus pass holders.

The massive arrangements made by both the TSRTC and APSRTC to transport lakhs of pilgrims to Pushkram destinations have resulted in the diversion of a large number of district buses. Up to 80 per cent of normal operations in districts have been affected due to this.

In Hyderabad around 2,000 services have been temporarily suspended due to the diversion of buses for special operations. The temporary diversion of services not only causes a lot of inconvenience to passengers but also result in wastage of the money spent on bus passes as passengers have to depend on other modes of transport.

“In AP, the problems faced by lakhs of pass holders have been become serious. During the bifurcation stir, two days after taking the three-monthstudent pass, the APSRTC strike started, and it con- tinued for four to five months. Then came the strike by the APSRTC staff union and we lost our money. And, now the ‘Godavari Pushkaralu’. It seems, 80 per cent of the buses are running towards Godavari. During mornings even autorickshaws are not available,” writes DC reader Edwin F.G. from Visakhapatnam.

A large number of students go for student passes apart from professionals who travel to their workplace daily using monthly passes.

“After the Pushkarams started the frequency of buses towards Medchal has come down forcing me to take autorickshaws at high rates even though I have a monthly pass. These special operations are a boon for pilgrims but for bus pass holders it is a loss,” said Prakash Rao, a daily commuter from Jeedimetla.

AFTER THE PUSHKARAMS STARTED, THE FREQUENCY OF BUSES HAS COME DOWN. NOW I AM FORCED TO HIRE AUTORICKSHAWS AT HIGH RATES ALTHOUGH I HAVE A PASS.

— PRAKASH RAO,

dailycommuter