The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ESCI study for reduction of RTC long routes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

ESCI study for reduction of RTC long routes

V. Geetanath

HYDERABAD: The city region of the APSRTC could run its services more efficiently and more profitably if it makes a reduction on the long routes and runs mini buses on the primary and secondary routes.

A study taken up by the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) for RTC has indicated this aspect. The city division operates 36,000 trips - with 2,800 buses catering to 30 lakh passengers'trips.

Though the route rationalisation report covered five depots of the 24 in twin cities, it nevertheless gives an insight into the service schedules. The pilot project, yet to be submitted to RTC, covers the depots of Dilsukhnagar (DSNR), Hayathnagar (HYT), Uppal (UPL), Midhani (MDN) and Ibrahimpatnam (IBP).

Flexibility

The study suggested termination of all bus routes of these depots at Koti and Secunderabad - with a few services extended till Lak-di-ka-pul and Ameerpet. Pruning of route lengths will allow more flexibility in operating schedules within the jurisdiction of depots with the same number of buses.

Trunk (main) routes are high passenger demand segments, requiring full size buses to be operated at a high frequency and at uniform intervals. These routes extend from Vanasthalipuram to Koti along NH - 9 and further branch out to Secunderabad via RTC crossroads and Lak-di-ka-pul for DSNR/HYT depots. For MDN/IBP depots, trunk routes vary for peak and non-peak hours. Since passengers travelling towards Ibrahimpatnam and Nadergul are mostly students, the frequency of operations should be in tune with timings of colleges. Trunk routes will be from Lab Quarters to Nampally via I.S. Sadan and another from Ibrahimpatnam to Koti via I.S. Sadan with a few services via Saroornagar/ Dilsukhnagar.

For Uppal depot, trunk routes extend from Uppal to Secunderabad via Tarnaka, to Koti via Amberpet via Ramanthapur and Lak-di-ka-pul. Analytical data indicates that a majority of passengers from these areas travel north as far as Secunderabad and east till Ameerpet with most terminating travel before Lak-di-ka-pul itself. About 14 prominent bus stops were covered and 2,800 passengers interviewed on various aspects of services for the study prepared by Vishwashanthi Consultancy Services (VCS), over a period of four months.

Observations

"Our observations do not justify long routes as there can be more control over bus movements with short routes. Vehicle travel patterns have to suit the regular commuters," says B. Prashanth Kumar, Chief Consultant, VCS. For primary feeder routes with a high demand during peak hours, the report suggests operating mini-buses at a high frequency as full size buses at low frequency will lead to longer waiting periods.

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