Surge in Sankranti bus travel due to Maha Lakshmi Scheme

WARANGAL/KARIMNAGAR: With the state government declaring holidays from January 11, excitement for the Sankranti festival has surged as families across Telangana prepare to reunite in their hometowns and villages. Many individuals, including children who have relocated for education, employment, and business, are travelling back to erstwhile Warangal and Karimnagar districts to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.

The introduction of the Maha Lakshmi Scheme by the state government has significantly increased the number of people travelling by bus. Consequently, bus stations are experiencing heavy crowds, long waiting lines, and packed spaces as numerous buses accommodate the festive rush. To manage the influx of passengers, the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) authorities in the Warangal and Karimnagar regions have arranged additional and special bus services to ensure passenger convenience.

In the Warangal region, RTC officials are operating up to 700 bus services, including 400 additional and special buses running between Hyderabad and Warangal, 650 buses travelling from Warangal to Hyderabad, and 300 buses serving various parts of the erstwhile Warangal district. Similarly, in Karimnagar, the RTC is running 770 buses from Hyderabad to Karimnagar, 970 buses from Karimnagar to Hyderabad, and 860 additional and special buses covering different areas of the erstwhile Karimnagar district.

K. Bhanu Kiran, deputy regional manager of the Warangal RTC, told Deccan Chronicle that depot managers, supervisors, and staff members are actively monitoring the situation to manage the crowds and operate bus services efficiently across all depots. He assured that buses are being run according to demand, especially from the Uppal and Habsiguda areas, where special services and temporary parking facilities have been arranged to accommodate the large number of passengers. Enhanced police security and the provision of drinking water facilities have also been implemented to ensure passenger safety and comfort.

Despite these measures, passengers have raised concerns about RTC officials charging 50 per cent more for bus fares during the festive season under the guise of special services and extra trips. Additionally, private vehicle operators are reportedly doubling their prices, exacerbating the financial burden on travellers. Karthik, a software employee travelling from Hyderabad to his native Huzurabad, told Deccan Chronicle that due to the heavy rush and lack of available seats on RTC buses, he was compelled to hire a private vehicle, incurring a fare of ₹800.

In response to these issues, transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar issued a statement warning private bus operators against causing any inconvenience to passengers. He emphasised that strict action would be taken, including the seizure of buses, if operators are found violating regulations.