Hyderabad, Jan 11 (UNI) With schools closed and a festive spirit in the air, Hyderabad residents are heading to their villages to celebrate the Sankranti festival.
Starting on Friday, the city has witnessed a mass exodus, with bus and railway stations packed with travellers. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has stepped in to manage the rush by operating 6,432 special buses, including 1,600 for districts within Telangana and 300 for destinations in Andhra Pradesh. Key bus stations, including MGBS, Uppal, L B Nagar, and Aranghar, have been equipped with special arrangements to handle the surge.
Despite these measures, passengers expressed frustration over 50 percent higher fares for special buses.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar warned private travel operators against exploiting passengers and directed officials to seize buses found charging exorbitant rates. TSRTC reported 100 percent bookings for its buses during the festive period, leaving many travellers scrambling for alternatives.
South Central Railway has also ramped up operations, running several special trains, including 59, from Cherlapally Terminal to AP destinations like Narsapur, Kakinada, and Srikakulam. On January 11 and 12, additional trains with regular coaches will run between Cherlapalli and Visakhapatnam. Unreserved passengers can now use the UTS mobile app to book tickets and avoid long queues at counters.
Meanwhile, air travel has become a luxury, with ticket prices from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam skyrocketing to Rs 17,000–18,000 during the weekend. The Sankranti rush highlights the challenges of festive travel, with passengers relying on private transport despite higher costs and inconvenience.
