Metro competition forces TSRTC to tap new routes

Hyderabad: Threatened by Hyderabad Metro Rail eroding its passenger base, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has decided to restrict itself to providing ‘feeder-services’ along the soon-to-be-opened metro stretch while increasing services on newer routes.
The decision comes after a detailed study was conducted by transport authorities to assess the possible loss of passengers on the 12.5-km metro stretch, including the Miyapur-SR Nagar section, which is supposed to be opened from June 2.
Authorities fear that a whopping 670 buses out of the 900 operating on the stretch would be affected by the metro roll out. At present, there are 10 bus routes that cover the stretch, all of which are expected to be affected as per the survey.
Experts say bus services from Secunderabad to Patancheru, Koti to Patancheru, Koti to Allwyn and from Afzalgunj to Jeedimetla will most likely be hit by the Metro roll out.
To boost revenue from other zones and deal with the possible impact, buses will be added on new untapped routes, including between Jeedimetla to Gachibowli, Pragathinagar to Kondapur and Bachupally to Gachibowli, offi cials said. Apart from introducing new routes to these places, a detailed survey of passengers alighting and boarding buses at the new routes will be taken up for future operations.
As per the study, the commissioning of these new routes could be an “an opportunity” for the TSRTC, greater Hyderabad zone, to also explore the possibility of connecting colonies radially and diagonally. This shift, apart from improving last mile connectivity, will also improve over all performance of the Greater Hyderabad Zone of the corporation, officials said.
“While the study shows that the impact on our buses will not be much, we will be launching services on the new connection Jeedimetla to Gachibowli via JNTU route in a fortnight,” said A Purushotham, executive director, Greater Hyderabad Zone, TSRTC.
Once the new routes are operational, a survey to assess most profi table routes and timings will also be taken up. Apart from these routes, alighting points will be developed near metro stations as per the plan.