TSRTC bus fares become dearer, levy heavy burden

HYDERABAD: The increased cost of fuel has put a huge financial burden on Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), which is already reeling under losses and is currently incurring a loss of nearly Rs 5 crores every day due to an abnormal increase in diesel cost.

It may be recalled that the state-owned TSRTC has decided to impose an additional diesel cess, revising the fares for all services. This hike came into being two days ago.

The corporation implemented the additional diesel cess in slabs of Rs.5 and above depending on the distance travelled by passengers, in all types of services in the district, and long-distance routes. The TSRTC called it diesel cess and passed the burden on to the passengers. Instead of Rs 2 per ticket, this cess would be payable in slabs of Rs 5 from June 9.

For Pallevelugu or rural services, the cess will be Rs 5 to Rs 45 for 250 km. Passengers traveling in Express buses will be charged Rs 5 to Rs 90 extra for 500 km. The slab will be Rs 5 to Rs. 125 for 500 km in Deluxe, Rs 10 to Rs 130 for 500 km in Super Luxury, and Rs 10 to Rs 170 for 500 km in A/C services.

Those passengers who have reserved their tickets in advance will not be levied the revised fares and the difference in fare will not be collected. Bus passes issued at pre-revised rates will continue to be valid till the expiry of validity at old rates only.

Meanwhile, Telangana's BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who was scheduled to lead a protest by party at JBS against the imposition of additional diesel cess by the TSRTC, is placed under house arrest to prevent him from staging a protest.