Students badly hit by shortage of buses

Hyderabad: Due to less frequency of TSRTC buses in morning, students having route passes either have to wait for an RTC bus for hours or have to travel hanging over the footboard or windows of the bus holding on for their dear lives.

Missing the bus and waiting for the next one is not an option, as reaching college is important for them and there is no information on the time of the arrival of the next bus. However, the students say it is a matter of compulsion for them as not taking the bus would mean having to shell out a lot of money on traveling by auto-rickshaw or by private buses despite having a bus pass.

They also blame TSRTC officials for not running enough buses on busy routes in morning and evening peak hours.A student's route pass costs around Rs 450 which is half of the price of a regular bus pass. However, the student pass is only valid in normal TSRTC buses and not in private buses.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, a senior official from the Traffic Police Department said, "Travelling on footboard is extremely dangerous as the commuters pose a risk for themselves as well as someone traveling on the road. He can be hit by another overtaking vehicle."

"Most of the times, we have to turn a blind eye to footboard travel during college timings, as the students might get late for class or can be marked absent," he added.

"There are not enough buses on the major routes. The frequency is also poor, especially during morning and evening peak hours. There is a need for more buses on busy routes this way student won't have to travel hanging on the footboard," said Veeresh, a Law college student.

"For a student attending his class and his attendance is very important which he can't miss. Due to the less frequency of normal buses, students either have to miss his class waiting for a bus or has to risk his life and commute either way he is the one suffering," said Abhilash, an Intermediate second year student.