Free bus service for women may be halted on ghat routes over safety concerns
Sources said RTC officials have submitted reports warning that carrying more than 40 passengers on ghat routes could pose serious risks, and have requested additional buses to safely implement the scheme.
The Paderu depot — the only one in Alluri Sitarama Raju district — operates just 47 buses across 22 routes, covering 15,000 km daily, with nearly 6,000 km on ghat roads. Except for the Paderu–Araku route, most connections to plain areas such as Narsipatnam, S Kota, and Visakhapatnam require travel through steep and winding terrain.
Routes such as Munchangiput–Jolaput, Chintapalli–Seeleru, and Seeleru–Chintoor are particularly challenging. "If free services are implemented, passenger numbers will rise. Crossing 40 passengers on ghat roads becomes dangerous," a senior RTC officer said anonymously.
Currently, around 20,000 passengers use RTC services daily in the district, with women making up 40%. Officials estimate that number could rise to 60% if free travel is introduced.
A final decision is expected Thursday afternoon, as RTC MD holds meetings with officials from ghat road sections. "Even if buses originate from plain areas, free services may not be approved for routes passing through ghat roads," a senior official said.
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