Kurnool: Creation of a comprehensive city transportation system remains a dream in Kurnool despite calls to the state government from APSRTC officials years ago. This even as the government wants to make the city the state’s judicial capital.
Autorickshaws form the predominant mode of commuting in the absence of a robust public transport system. Cities like Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam have well-organised public/mass transportation services.
The steadily increasing vehicular traffic within Kurnool city has been a growing concern for its residents. The city has expanded significantly since the turn of the century, spreading to a radius of 10-15 km. The influx of vehicles from neighbouring areas adds to the traffic woes in the narrow and congested streets.
Records show the city has nearly 70,000 autorickshaws, nearly 1,400 school buses, around eight lakh motorcycles and 50,000 cars apart from other vehicles. Some 60 per cent of these vehicles are concentrated within the city.
The lack of an efficient public transport system makes people rely heavily on autorickshaws. There’s no escape from situations of overcharging, harassment of passengers and inconveniences to women passengers. A proper city bus service has not been attempted at.
In the past, the city enjoyed a private bus service that facilitated easy travel. These vehicles gradually disappeared as APSRTC services were rolled in. The only available mode of public transport now, aside from autorickshaws, is the Pellevelugu service that offers limited services to the city and its neighbourhood.
Every day, around 50,000 people from various districts, including erstwhile Kurnool and neighboring Kadapa, Anantapur and Mahbubnagar arrive in the city for personal and official errands.
City resident K. Rama from NR Pet area complained about the autorickshaws, citing unruly behaviour and inflated fares. P.K. Reddy, a retired bank officer residing in B-Camp, laments the lack of efforts from the state government to improve the city’s transportation services. The situation would worsen here after the legal institutions are shifted to the city that’s set to be the judicial capital.
APSRTC regional manager T. Venkataramam, said. “We had submitted a proposal for minibus services a couple of years ago. This did not materialise.”
