Bus fares hit the sky this election season

Hyderabad: Private bus operators hiked bus fares ahead of the forthcoming elections, as people in the city scrambled to get seats in private buses. It is observed commonly during festive seasons, but this time it is the general elections that are making people move to their home towns to cast their votes.

"The rise in bus fare is drastic. Non AC, AC semi sleeper, AC sleeper are charging double and triple rates," says A Srinivas, an agent of Orange Tours and Travels.

On Monday, for buses plying from Hyderabad to Vijayawada the fare for non AC ticket was hiked from Rs 700 to Rs 1000, AC sleeper from Rs 1000- Rs 1200, which is higher than the usual rate. Private buses plying from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam, the bus fares for non-AC ticket has been increased from Rs 940 to 1250, AC semi sleeper Rs 1000 to 1200, AC Rs 1400 to 2000.

The same condition would prevail in the next two days say agents and bus operators. When enquired with private bus operators it was found that rates from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam would rise further. Non-AC- Rs 1500 -1650, AC sleeper Rs 2000-2200, AC semi sleeper Rs 1600. On April 10, Non-AC was Rs 2000, AC sleeper was Rs 3000, AC semi sleeper was Rs 2500.

As a practice, all the bus operators keep the last row empty, as they are no takers for that particular row and in the last rush time they hike the rates and sell the seats to passengers, said a agent of Vijaya Travels.

All the buses plying from Hyderabad to major cities of Andhra Pradesh are packed, and ticket price will be double on the eve of the election, said a travel agent of Deccan Tours and Travels.

The most drastic rise in price is the AC sleeper buses tickets, as in normal days ticket is usually Rs 1,200, and now, the price had been hiked to Rs 3,000. Also, a few private buses are charging the double fare, especially for the non-AC buses.

Surya Rao, a passenger traveling from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, said he had no choice but to a book a ticket in the private bus, as there were no seats available on the trains and government bus services.

"I always cast my vote despite the price hike of bus tickets, I would chose to travel to my home town, as there is no choice left to fulfill my wish to vote," said Goutham Naidu, a traveler.