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Time of India

Amid bus fleet expansion, IT corridor commuters still face longer wait time

Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has expanded its fleet by deploying the highest number of new Metro Deluxe buses to key hubs, including Secunderabad (79), Patancheru (64), Koti (37), Uppal (33), and Mehdipatnam (27), covering both starting and terminating points. While these areas now benefit from improved connectivity, residents in IT corridors such as Gachibowli, Madhapur, and Kondapur, as well as other neighbourhoods including the Financial District and Himayatnagar, continue to face issues with infrequent bus services, long waiting times, and inadequate last-mile connectivity. Currently, TGSRTC operates a fleet of 3,151 buses across Hyderabad and Secunderabad, within GHMC limits and suburbs. These buses undertake 32,422 trips daily from 25 depots, covering 8.5 lakh kilometres and serving over 25 lakh passengers every day. When TOI visited several city bus stops reported for reduced frequency, many commuters were observed enduring long waits and overcrowded conditions. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad Shridar Varma, a regular commuter from Gachibowli, said: "Over the past few months, the frequency of buses has noticeably dropped. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Cash Roadster Undo During peak hours, I sometimes wait over 30 to 40 minutes just to catch a bus. The bus stops become extremely crowded, making it uncomfortable and stressful to travel, especially when you have work deadlines to meet. With the erratic rains now, it's getting more and more problematic." It is not only working professionals who are affected; students are feeling the strain as well. Anitha TK, a student from Himayatnagar, said: "Earlier, buses used to arrive every 10 to 15 minutes, which was manageable for me and my friends. But lately, the waiting times have increased significantly, and the buses are often packed to capacity by the time they reach our stop. I now have to wake up at 7am just to ensure I reach college on time, that's how unpredictable and overcrowded the buses have become. " TS Reddy, a retired official from the Central Road Research Institute and a transport planning expert, highlighted that despite the city's growing population, the number of buses has not kept pace. "A decade ago, the city operated close to 4,000 buses, but that number has declined significantly since. The govt must prioritise expanding the city's bus fleet, improving last-mile connectivity, and increasing service frequency. If we want people to shift from private vehicles to public transport, it is essential to strengthen and scale up these services to meet demand." A TGSRTC official told TOI: "As part of our efforts to expand the city's bus fleet, we have already introduced over 265 new buses, with another 10 expected to join the service in the coming days. We are actively assessing various routes to identify those experiencing high demand and low frequency, and we plan to deploy additional buses on these routes to improve service and reduce waiting times for commuters." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.