BRS Slams RTC Fare Hike, Demands Immediate Rollback

The BRS has intensified its protest against the steep hike in bus fares by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC).

BRS working president K T Rama Rao and senior party leaders met TGSRTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy and submitted a memorandum demanding the immediate withdrawal of the increased fares.

KTR urged the Congress government to roll back the fare hike, saying it had placed a heavy burden on the people of Hyderabad. He also demanded that the government resolve TGSRTC's core issues and fulfill promises made to its employees.

The BRS leader accused the Congress administration of plotting to privatise the corporation. "The government is attempting to sell off TGSRTC assets and is hatching a conspiracy to privatise the organisation," he alleged, and added that the State was deliberately trying to cripple the RTC financially to do that.

During the meeting, BRS leaders sought clarification on government dues to the corporation. The MD reportedly informed them that Rs 1,353 crore under the Mahalakshmi free bus scheme was pending, and that the previous BRS government had released Rs 9,246 crore as an RTC grant.

Addressing the media after the meeting, KTR launched a scathing attack on the State government. "This government doesn't know how to run a government; they only know how to run a circus," he said.

Criticising the fare hike, he called it unfair to burden the common and middle-class people of Telangana, especially amid economic challenges and declining employment opportunities over the past two years.

Questioning the rationale behind the hike, he said, "We welcome the free bus service for women, but the number of buses must be increased. They are collecting double the fare from men to offset free travel for women. It's cruel to give free service with one hand and raise ticket prices with the other."

"If the free bus service leads to losses, the government must bear the burden, not the public. Public transport is a social responsibility of the government," he added, and claimed that the previous KCR government had absorbed RTC losses to protect commuters.

Meanwhile, the BRS's Chalo Bus Bhavan protest against the fare hike turned tense today. KTR was placed under house arrest early in the morning as police deployed heavy forces. Following public criticism, the government later allowed KTR and other leaders to proceed to Bus Bhavan. KTR, along with Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Padma Rao Goud, travelled by bus from the Regimental Bazaar stop in Secunderabad to Bus Bhavan.

The police however attempted to stop them near the RTC crossroads, leading to heated exchanges. BRS leaders alleged that the police behaved harshly with party activists and leaders. Eventually, only elected representatives were permitted to enter Bus Bhavan.

Reacting to his detention, KTR said, "When we tried to stage a peaceful, democratic protest by taking a bus to hand over a letter to the RTC MD, the State government deployed massive police forces and arrested us. While crime rates are rising across the State and capital, the police are busy arresting political opponents. Why is the government so afraid of us submitting a letter?"