Fresh Route Survey Needed to Reduce Burden on RTC Staff, Maintain Schedules: Experts

Hyderabad: With overcrowding of public buses seen on all major routes, experts have called for a fresh route survey by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) to augment its fleet in busy areas, reduce journey-service time per bus and to maintain the pre-decided schedule.

After the state government implemented its free bus service for women passengers under the Maha Lakshmi scheme on December 9, there has been a sudden surge in demand for buses, with the occupancy rate crossing 90 per cent on average.

The TSRTC operates around 8,400 buses. Of these, over 6,000 are 'ordinary’ and ‘express' buses and the Maha Lakshmi Scheme is implemented with these buses. On top of this, the TSRTC operates another 20 subsidised schemes for different sections of society.

Since its implementation, the free bus scheme, which has been widely appreciated, has recorded over eight crore rides.

The scheme has provided a fresh lease of life to the heavily indebted TSRTC. Now, the corporation is earning Rs 8 crore daily.

However, the high occupancy is adding to the workload of conductors and other bus crew.

Senior TSRTC officials explained that they are getting data on popular travel routes and the occupancy rate from the Ticket Issuing Machines and that separate route surveys will also be done soon.

Experts opined that separate route surveys are needed to reduce the burden on the TSRTC's 17,000 conductors and 14,900 drivers.

Now, the role of the conductors has become more significant, where the conductor has to check the identity cards and issue zero tickets to the beneficiaries as well as issue regular tickets and maintain log details.