Telangana Government set to resume RTC bus services

Hyderabad: The state government, which had opposed the resumption of train services, is mulling to re-start RTC operations. It claims that it is working out strategies in such a way that the public transport will undergo tremendous change.

Henceforth, the city will not witness people waiting at bus stops, crowding the buses, travelling on footboards, etc.

Sources said that there will be fixed pickup points and the buses will not stop en-route till they reach their destination.

For example, if a bus starts from Vanasthalipuram to Secretariat, it will not stop anywhere en-route. The number of maximum passengers would also be reduced by 50 percent.

Another interesting feature that is being considered is that unlike in the past the entry into the buses will not be open for all.

Those who want to use the bus service will have to first book tickets online making payment using digital mode. Even this will not guarantee their entry.

They will have to reach the notified point at least 30 minutes in advance, undergo thermal screening for corona symptoms.

The RTC will also make the passengers use hand sanitisers and ensure that physical distancing was maintained. It proposes to start the services in green and orange zones.

As far as inter-district services are concerned, maintaining physical distance is not very difficult. In this case too, it is going to be s point-to-point service just like non-stop buses, RTC has been operating at present.

In inter-district services, seats can be easily re-arranged and the buses can be sanitised once they reach the destination.

The total number of seats in luxury bus is around 30 and the authorities suggested reducing the seating capacity to 17 to 20 so that physical distancing can be maintained.

A final decision is likely to be taken on May 15 when the Chief Minister proposes to hold a high-level meeting.