Festival Travel Woes..Crowds at Bus Stations and Traffic Jams on Highways

As Bathukamma and Dasara approach, people from Hyderabad are heading to their hometowns to celebrate the festivals with their families. Since Friday evening, major bus stations have been packed with passengers, particularly at Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS). With buses unable to meet the rush, passengers have reportedly been waiting for more than an hour and rushing to secure seats. Although Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) officials say arrangements have been made, passengers have expressed frustration over delays and a reported 50% increase in fares. Tickets that usually cost around ₹300 are reportedly being sold for up to ₹450. Private travel operators from Kukatpally, Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar and Ameerpet are also accused of charging up to double the usual fares for services to various districts in Andhra Pradesh.

TGSRTC Managing Director Y. Nagi Reddy inspected the passenger rush and arrangements at JBS on Friday. He reviewed drinking-water facilities, sanitation and rest areas, and spoke to passengers about their experiences. As the rush is expected to increase further on the 17th and 18th, he directed officials to operate additional buses wherever necessary. Passengers can make advance bookings through www.tgsrtcbus.in or contact the helplines 040-69440000 and 040-23450033 for information.

Heavy traffic was also reported on National Highway 65, which connects Hyderabad and Vijayawada, as people travelled in private vehicles and buses. In Choutuppal, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, flyover construction has diverted traffic onto narrow service roads, causing long queues and slow movement. Congestion was also reported at the Korlapahad toll plaza in Nalgonda district’s Kethepally mandal, where technical problems with FASTag scanners repeatedly disrupted traffic and inconvenienced travellers.