Only 5 buses put in service at Kushaiguda Depot

Kushaiguda: Passengers travelling to various places in the East Zone had to stand for hours as only five out of 120 buses were pressed into service here on Sunday. The authorities had earlier on Saturday indicated that 20 buses would be used but just five were seen on the roads. Other buses were engaged by the TRS for the party’s public meeting at Kongara Kalan in Ibrahimpatnam.

Many passengers arrived from villages unaware about the diversion of buses, but had to return as there were only five RTC buses in service, according to commuters who have been waiting at the depot for hours. Till afternoon, the bus stands were seen crowded, thousands of passengers got stranded seen negotiating with cabs and autos. Those who were to travel to nearby places took autos, cabs and other private vehicles. Those who had to go far off places rushed to railway stations to travel by trains. The railway stations witnessed unprecedented rush. Many others postponed their journeys.

The officers and passengers from other districts were seen criticising the TSRTC officials for not making any prior announcement on shortage of buses. A college student P Venkat, who had to go to Secunderabad said that he had no idea of the shortage of buses. If they had announced earlier we would have stayed at hostel, he added Similarly, a woman said, "She reached LB Nagar because of less buses in the depot the local autos are charging Rs 150, double than normal charges." Ramesh, an auto driver said, “We used to make only Rs 500 daily from morning to evening but today we are earning more that Rs 1,500 because of the shortage of buses in the city.”