RTC buses in heavy demand as many voters head home

Hyderabad: With Thursday being the day of polling, there has been a significant increase in traffic with many from the city heading to Nalgonda, Warangal, Mahabubnagar and Karimnagar districts, to cast vote in their respective hometowns on Wednesday. There was a heavy rush of passengers at all major bus stations.

A senior official from Telangana State Road Transport Authority (TSRTC) said “Around 90 per cent occupancy was reported by Wednesday evening. This will keep rising well into the night as many will take a bus after their day’s work is over.”

However, there was no such significant traffic at railway stations because most are short-distance journeys.

Meanwhile, several people have gone in for carpooling. Ravi, a construction worker, said “Our vote is in Parigi. There are around 50 of us in the city. As a cheaper alternative, we have hired bigger vehicles for the to and fro journey.”
Similarly, Balamai, a domestic help from Narayanpet, said “We promised our leaders that we will come and vote at our native place. We have hired a car, in which four of us will be travelling.”

In a welcome gesture, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union is providing free transport facilities to the needy, especially senior citizens, to reach their respective polling booths. We plan to deploy around 250 cabs, 120 autos and 1,200 bikes,” said union president, Shaik Salauddin.

Going further, he said that they have taken a list from the Election Commission office.

“We have already contacted them and will be providing free transport wherever required. We have taken this decision to boost voter turnout given the low turnout in the last three Assembly elections, especially in Greater Hyderabad, which recorded between 40 and 55 per cent.”

He added, “Our members will be stationed near polling booths and on the request of family members, our drivers will reach them.”