Private bus operators cash in on Sankranti across Telangana, AP

Regular ticket fares for AC bus services that range between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,800 to Vijayawada have now surged to as much as Rs 5,000

Hyderabad: With Sankranti around the corner, private bus operators who are mandated to keep fares in line with the RTC rates are charging around three times the regular prices on major routes across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Families and individuals wishing to return to their native places in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the Sankranti festival via private buses and other means of transport are forced to pay exorbitant fares.

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Many private operators have increased their bus fares towards Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kurnool, and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.

Private operators are exploiting the high passenger demand, which typically peaks between January 10 and 15, by significantly increasing ticket prices.

Normally, regular ticket fares for AC bus services range between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,800 to Vijayawada, but during the current festive week, these fares have surged to as much as Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, even on routes such as from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam.

The TGSRTC and APSRTC are operating over 6,000 special buses each for passengers going to their native places this Sankranti. They have requested citizens to book tickets in RTC services at normal rates and for hassle-free travel.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials are carrying out special drives across the city against private buses for demanding high fares from passengers, and booking cases. On Thursday alone, about 15 private buses were seized for irregularities.