HYDERABAD: Starting Monday, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) will hike fares of all city bus services operating in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The move is aimed at funding the expansion of electric bus infrastructure in the city.
Under the new fare structure, passengers travelling by City Ordinary, Metro Express, E-Ordinary and E-Express services will pay an additional Rs 5 for the first three stages and Rs 10 from the fourth stage onwards. For Metro Deluxe and E-Metro AC services, the additional charge will be Rs 5 for the first stage and Rs 10 from the second stage onwards.
The move follows the state government’s approval of the TGSRTC’s proposal on September 23 to introduce a small surcharge to support the transition towards eco-friendly public transport.
As part of the government’s broader initiative to make Hyderabad’s public transport system clean and sustainable, TGSRTC plans to induct 2,800 electric buses by 2027, replacing diesel buses within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. Officials said the initiative aims to reduce air pollution, curb traffic congestion and promote environmentally responsible urban mobility.
Currently, 265 electric buses are operating across six depots in Greater Hyderabad, and another 275 will be added later this year. To accommodate the upcoming fleet, TGSRTC is developing charging infrastructure, including high-tension (HT) connections at each depot at a cost of `8 crore, with support from TGSPDCL and Transco.
In the next phase, the corporation will establish HT charging connections in 19 depots and build 10 new depots and 10 charging stations across the city, with an estimated infrastructure cost of Rs 392 crore.
Modest fare hike must to maintain finances: TGSRTC
TGSRTC officials said the modest fare hike is necessary to manage financial challenges while supporting the transition to a cleaner, greener transport network. They urged citizens to cooperate and support this initiative, which will help reduce emissions, improve air quality, and promote better public health.
It is worth noting that nearly 24 lakh passengers commute daily across Hyderabad and Secunderabad through 3,200 TGSRTC bus services. Of these, around 15 to 16 lakh commuters benefit from the Mahalakshmi scheme, which offers free bus travel for women. With the latest fare revision, concerns have emerged that the additional cost will fall primarily on male passengers, who form the majority of fare-paying commuters in the city.