HYDERABAD: Though life is limping back to normalcy after two long years of pandemic-induced fears and restrictions, it seems that hundreds of school bus drivers have nothing to cheer for. Restrictions are no more, the usual hustle and bustle is back, public places and commercial areas are abuzz and roads are yet again chock-a-block, yet hundreds of school buses are parked in the backyards, even as the educational institutions started physical classes with full attendance.
Parents are said to be reluctant to opt for group transportations in order to maintain physical distance as the virus is feared to be still prevailing. This is affecting school bus services badly, keeping drivers still waiting for better days.
It has been two years since those who are dependent on the school buses to earn their daily bread remain jobless. Now the bigger hope for them is the new academic year, which hopefully will start as normal just as it was before the pandemic.
According to statistics provided by the Telangana state road transport authorities, there are 27,386 buses used by education institutes to transport students across the state. Of that, around 70 per cent alone are in the Greater Hyderabad limits.
