This is the reality, Mr Revanth Reddy!: Medaram Jathara compounds problems of ‘Free bus ride’ scheme

HYDERABAD: This is the ground reality with the free bus ride scheme for women, Chief Minister Mr Revanth Reddy. Though the intent maybe good, the implementation is flawed. This is just a case study on the ground situation. What has compounded the problem is diversion of hundreds of TSRTC buses to Medaram Jathara.

There is a mad scramble of commuters to get into the city buses in Hyderabad. Recently, a woman in Alwal slipped out from the footboard of a packed city bus due to milling crowds. But for the extremely alert driver who had applied brakes, she would have been crushed under the wheels of the bus.

Editor of popular YouTube channel Mirror TV Vijaya Reddy on Wednesday interviewed the driver, conductor, and a few other conductors around, apart from disgusted, yet desperate, passengers who got into a city bus in the city.

Conversations are in the linked video for everyone to watch.

She asked the bus driver as to how many would get into a bus per trip. He said: “About 150 people.” When confronted with a question as to whether only 60 people were permitted, he said there were no seats, and “take a look at the people. It’s becoming troublesome. There is no chance for the conductor to sit in a seat even for a minute. “Since 7.30 am, I have been sitting in the driving seat and the conductor has been standing. You can see,” the driver tells Vijaya Reddy.

A male passenger said: “It’s becoming tough. At least for four to five days, if normal passes are allowed in Metro buses, it would have been better.

A female conductor, when asked how many commuters would board a bus for a normal trip, said: “200 people. Look at the crowds. We have to punch the tickets amid these crowds. We are unable to even gulp some water.”

When Vijaya confronted another driver on the overcrowded buses, the frustrated man rapped the government. “Madam, there are no buses. People are hitting the bus to stop. I had no alternative but to stop the moving bus. What do you I do if they fell down and die. If cases are filed who would take responsibility?”

On footboard journey, he said: “Even after repeated appeals, nobody is listening. What do we do? Cases are coming on to us. You please tell u, madam. If we stop the vehicle, they say it should move. If we don’t stop, they wouldn’t agree.”

Another conductor said:” We have to issue tickets like this only. That is how it is.”

A female passenger on the footboard,when asked what would happen if she fell down, said: “For two hours, there is no bus. For a journey of 45 minutes, we had to wait for two hours.”

Asked if it was not dangerous to travel like this, she said: “We have been waiting for two hours. If another bus comes, we can get down.”

The driver intervened in the conversation and said the travelers were not moving inside. If they moved in only could he start the bus, else he would stop.

“They are not understanding. They are just not heeding. Now, the quantum of punishment is 10 years of imprisonment and Rs. 7 lakh fine. My wife and kids stay in a rented accommodation. Where will they have to go, if I go to jail.”

When the driver was told that the passengers were complaining that more buses were not being operated, he said: “What do we do, madam. We are merely drivers and conductors. We are just employees. They have sent buses to Medaram. Don’t they know that there are huge crowds to commute? Doesn’t the CM know? Don’t the politicians know? Ignoring the public in the city, why are you diverting the buses there? What should happen to the people here? Here are there are no buses. They (people) are asking where should they go when there are no buses. They will come to attack us. What should we do, madam? If we leave those who have to travel to their villages near Hayathnagar, they will hold us by collar. What should we do? Nobody has the kind pf hardship the drivers and conductors are facing. Passengers are not understanding. How long should I stop the bus? I have been constantly on duty for the last two days. They are hanging from the footboard and not moving inside for want of space. If an autorickshaw comes from behind and the handbag of a passenger hooks on to it, they will fall down. How do we know whether a passenger has fallen or died? What’s there in our hands? We only have the steering in our hand.”

To a query to the same female passenger, she said there was no alternative. And the driver was not moving the bus and if another bus came, “we can get down to take it. But, no bus is coming. Three buses have come. But, they are completely full.

When a passer-by said it’s Revanth reddy’s scheme, the enraged driver said: “He (Revanth Reddy) is being selfish. Today, he said ‘free bus’. What is free bus. If anybody dies, will he take the responsibility? Three lakh buses in. the city are insufficient.”

Talking to the motley crowd, the enraged driver said: “Politicians are playing with people. They are using all of us. They will make money and go. Revanth Reddy also is making money. You don’t have jobs. Understand that.”

This is the scene at almost every bus stop in the city.