Kavitha arrested after protest against RTC bus pass fare hike

Telangana Jagruti President and BRS MLC K Kavitha was arrested on Tuesday after she led a massive protest at the RTC Bus Bhavan against the hike in bus pass fares by the State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC)

Hyderabad: Telangana Jagruti President and BRS MLC K Kavitha led a massive protest at the RTC Bus Bhavan here against the hike in bus pass fares by the State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC). Accompanied by a large number of Telangana Jagruti activists, she staged a sit-in protest demanding immediate rollback of the fare increase.

The protest turned chaotic as police intervened, forcibly arresting Kavitha and shifting her to the Chandrayangutta police station. The arrest led to intensified protests by her supporters who gathered in large numbers at the Kanchanbagh police station.

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Addressing the media and supporters before her arrest, Kavitha lambasted the State government for imposing what she called an “unbearable burden” on the public.

“By increasing bus pass fares, the government has placed a huge financial strain on the people,” she said, highlighting the impact on students and employees.

“The fare hike will hit students and daily wage earners the hardest, adding an estimated burden of over Rs.300 per month for each commuter,” she said, accusing the government of exploiting the public. “The government has become accustomed to looting the people. This fare hike is nothing short of a burden on the common man,” she said, also pointing out complaints about the lack of bus services for students on several routes.

Call for immediate rollback

The protesters, led by Kavitha, demanded that the State government withdraw the fare hike without delay. The TGRTC had recently increased bus pass rates, with the ordinary pass price rising from Rs.1,150 to Rs.1,400, a jump of over 20 per cent. The new fares came into effect on Monday, triggering widespread discontent among commuters.