Hyderabad: People in the Old City of Hyderabad are being forced to avail of alternative modes of transport due to the poor network of the public transport system.
Narrow roads and congestion of traffic are the main reasons for this. The situation has deteriorated after vehicular movement was banned around the Charminar as part of the pedestrianisation project.
The occupancy rate of the RTC buses declined after the demolition of the Charminar bus station. Commuters, who were travelling on the RTC buses earlier, now prefer to travel by shared autorickshaws because the difference in fares is negligible. Passengers are avoiding RTC buses considering the amount of time it takes.
Changes in the route between the Old City and new city via Afzalgunj also affected the RTC, as travel by shared three-wheelers was quicker. Lack of shelters is another behind the decline in utilisation of the bus services.
Ms Sameera Afreen, depot manager, Falaknuma said that the corporation had neither decreased the number of buses nor the trips the Old City.
“Our buses make 785 trips daily in the Old City. Each driver makes 5-6 round trips a day,” she said.
According to her, the occupancy rate of the buses plying in the Old City is between 70-80 per cent, which is satisfactory. However, it will increase if illegal plying of sharing autorickshaws is controlled. The drivers occupy the bus bay and take away passengers.
Assaults on RTC drivers by anti social elements had increased, she said.
Recently, four such incidents had occurred and RTC officials met the DCP. South Zone. Amber Kishore Jha and submitted a petition requesting him to control the situation. The DCP suggested that they form a committee consisting of RTC and police officers to identify vulnerable areas.
Mr Syed Sajid of Shaheennagar said there was no problem in commuting up to Charminar, but onwards it was horrible for travelling in buses which move very slowly.
