The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Rail, bus commuters at their wits' end

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Rail, bus commuters at their wits' end

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JAN. 25. The bandh caused much hardship for people travelling to and from the capital as the State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), which suffered the brunt on Monday, decided to keep its services off the road.

Making hay while the sun shines were auto and taxi drivers, who refused to ply their vehicles on meter and demanded high fares.

The plight of people disembarking from overnight express trains and those coming to catch morning and noon trains was pitiable.

At the Secunderabad railway station, the traffic police were on hand early in the morning to reign in autos and taxis by noting down the addresses of passengers and their destinations. But as the day progressed, passengers were at the mercy of private transporters.

Fleecing spree

"The fare they are demanding is outrageous. We do not mind parting with a few extra rupees over and above the meter fare. They are taking undue advantage," complained Ramakrishna. The fares demanded were more than double the usual rates, bemoaned many.

At the Jubilee Bus Station not a single bus moved out or came in since morning. Yet there were many waiting passengers. "We came from Tirupati and have to go to Nanded in Maharashtra. If we can reach Nizamabad, we can catch the train by evening," said Maharaj accompanied by his family. "When we boarded the train last evening we were not aware of the bandh. Even then there is little we can do," he added, wryly.

Similar was the plight of Swamy, who had come from Visakhapatnam by Godavari Express. "I have to go to Gajwel. Not a single bus moved since early morning and I will wait," he said.

With little to and fro movement of bus, passengers were relatively less at the bus station.

"Some 93 buses were damaged in the city on Monday. We did not take any chances today. We will take out buses only after getting police clearance. Our entire first shift was idle," said C. Panduranga Murthy, Regional RTC Manager.

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