Raksha Bandhan: Hyderabad bus stations witness rush as people head home

Hyderabad’s major bus stations, including MGBS and JBS, witnessed a surge in passenger rush ahead of Raksha Bandhan and the long weekend. TGSRTC has planned special buses from August 26 to 30 to manage demand on major routes.

Hyderabad: With Raksha Bandhan falling on Friday and a long weekend ahead, major bus stations in the city, including MGBS and JBS, witnessed a steady surge in passenger rush as people headed to their native places to celebrate the festival with their families.

The rush intensified on Thursday evening and is expected to continue through Friday, with a large number of passengers planning to travel to districts across Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

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The long weekend has further added to the rush. Those taking leave on Saturday can effectively get four days away from work and return to Hyderabad on Sunday after spending the festival weekend in their hometowns.

Major bus stations are expected to remain busy, particularly during the evening and night hours. With many families expected to return to Hyderabad on Sunday, officials anticipate another major rush at the city’s bus stations during the day and evening.

SPECIAL BUSES:

Meanwhile, the TGSRTC has made arrangements to handle the expected passenger rush during Raksha Bandhan, with special buses to be operated from August 26 to 30.

Officials clarified that the fare revision announced for the festival period applies only to special services, while fares on regular buses will remain unchanged. The fare adjustment, permitted under Government Order No. 16 issued in 2003, allows special-service fares to be increased by up to 50 per cent. “Regular buses will continue to operate at the existing fares. Display boards will be placed prominently on special buses to inform passengers about the applicable fares,” an official said.

Special buses have been planned based on passenger demand on major routes from Hyderabad to Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Hanamkonda, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Godavarikhani and Mancherial, among other destinations. Special teams will be deployed at major passenger hubs, including Uppal, LB Nagar, Aramghar, JBS and MGBS, to manage crowds.

Officials said buses would be dynamically redeployed during the return journey, with services from routes witnessing lower demand being shifted to areas experiencing a heavier rush.