Shutdown puts brakes on buses

Hyderabad: The bustling Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) in Hyderabad and Jubilee Bus Station in Secunderabad wore a deserted look on the RTC bandh day on Saturday.

No buses were seen on standing on any platform. Consequently, Secunderabad railway station witnessed a rise in passenger footfall. "All the 77 buses have been confined to the depot.

The private drivers did not show up for duty today as they are scared of being assaulted by agitators," said S Praneeth, JBS Depot Manager.

The MGBS authorities said that the bus services came to a grinding halt as the drivers and conductors hired by the Corporation abstained from attending their duties.

People, who were standing on roads hoping for some buses or any private vehicle to reach their destination, were seen venting anger against government.

Ashok, a commuter going to Siddipet, said, "Me and my family have been waiting here for the last two hours still no bus showed up." Ashok and his family were travelling to Siddipet to spend the extended holidays.

So far, only two buses from Gajwel came to JBS carrying passengers with police escort, he added. Tension prevailed for some time at JBS after the arrest of Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) president M Kodandaram along with other TSRTC employees.

In the absence of city buses, auto-rickshaws took advantage of the opportunity at Secunderabad metro station where mostly buses heading to ECIL and Uppal come.

The share autos charged Rs 20 per person till ECIL and Uppal. "The morning trains which left were all full as passengers were seen rushing to reach their destinations.

The passenger footfall is around 1 to 1.2 lakh," said Raja Narsu, superintendent, Secunderabad railway station.