Hyderabad, Public transport across the state has nearly come to a standstill due to an indefinite strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), affecting the daily lives of millions of passengers. Most depots across the state, including in Hyderabad, remained deserted because of the strike. Thousands of employees are participating in the strike, severely disrupting the operation of around 9,000 buses. A large number of these buses remained parked in depots, disrupting connectivity in both urban and rural areas.
‘Mahalakshmi’ free travel scheme also sees a large number of passengers traveling
It was reported that the corporation currently has about 38,500 employees and around 9,000 to 9,100 buses. Of these, about 6,300 buses are owned by the corporation, while about 2,700 are operated under contract. In the Hyderabad area alone, around 3,000 buses are considered the backbone of urban public transport. Due to the strike, an estimated 6,000 to 9,000 buses are off the roads. This is causing immense hardship to millions of daily passengers. Before the strike, TGSRTC was serving approximately 54 to 60 lakh passengers daily, including 18 to 20 lakh passengers in the Hyderabad area. A large number of passengers also travel under the ‘Mahalakshmi’ free travel scheme for women.
Estimated loss of 5 to 6 crore rupees
Across the state, about 35 lakh zero-ticket journeys are recorded daily, of which about 14 lakh passengers are from the Hyderabad area alone. With bus services halted, passengers are forced to rely on private vehicles, auto-rickshaws, and cabs. Taking advantage of the increased demand, many private operators have also raised fares, further compounding the difficulties of the common people.
It was reported that this strike is directly impacting the corporation’s revenue.
The average daily income of TGSRTC is about 15 to 16 crore rupees, which is now turning into a similar daily loss due to the strike. In the Hyderabad area alone, an estimated daily loss of 5 to 6 crore rupees is expected. Overall, while the employees’ strike has plunged the general public into crisis, it has also severely impacted the corporation’s financial health. If a solution is not reached soon, the situation could become even more distressing.
