HYDERABAD: Vestibule buses may soon be introduced on the city roads. Plans are afoot by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation to re-introduce the buses in the city region. The move is aimed at helping the increasing number of commuters on high-density corridors.

Between the years 2001 and 2004, a vestibule bus was operated on a pilot basis on three routes - No. 187-D (JNTU-Dilsukhnagar), No. 3 (Kushaiguda-Afzalgunj) and No.113K (Uppal-Kukatpally). But the drawback was lack of manoeuvrability on congested roads as compared to the roads now, said City Regional Manager C. Pandu Ranga Murthy. The 15-metre long bus has two 61 passenger-seater compartments. Besides the problem with manoeuvrability it was also found that it consumed more diesel than conventional buses. Above all, it needs two conductors.

"We operated the bus since it was provided free of cost by the Ashok Leyland for test runs. In terms of economy, the bus was packed to the brim in peak hours but occupancy came down to 50 per cent in slack hours. Even then it was satisfactory," said an RTC senior official.

The proposal to provide exclusive bus lanes for RTC buses fuelled the proposal to re-introduce the bus again. These buses are already running in Chennai and Bangalore on outer ring roads and wide roads, which according to RTC officials is ideal for operations to generate more earnings.

"Led by Managing Director V. Dinesh Reddy, we will soon carry out a week-long inspection on operations of these buses in Chennai and Bangalore and then take a decision," he added.

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