Hyderabad: Telangana transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar hopped on a city bus this week, ditching the convoy and choosing a seat beside regular passengers. The ride from Panjagutta to Lakdikapool, right up to the Hyderabad Collectorate wasn’t just symbolic. He was listening.
Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav joined him. The minister struck up conversations with women passengers. Asked them directly about their commute troubles. Spoke with the driver. Chatted with the conductor. Didn’t just observe interacted. Photos from the ride, posted on his X handle, went viral within hours. The kind of field visit that triggered public appreciation. Some even called for more public reps to step out like this.
The inspections aren’t a one-off. Prabhakar has been dropping in unannounced at bus stands across Telangana. Gathering ground feedback from staff and travellers. The move comes as part of a larger push to strengthen the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC).
Meanwhile, a new initiative is picking up steam. The government plans to install sanitary napkin vending machines at RTC bus stands and depots. Pilot rollout starts in Mulugu and Hanumakonda, in partnership with the NGO Saheli. Aimed at helping women commuters, especially those caught off-guard during periods. Telangana will be the first state to bring such machines into RTC facilities. Ten-day deadline for the launch.
పంజాగుట్ట నుండి లక్డికపూల్ లో హైదరాబాద్ కలెక్టరేట్ వరకు ఆర్టీసీ బస్సులో మేయర్ గద్వాల విజయ లక్ష్మీ,రాజ్యసభ సభ్యులు అనిల్ కుమార్ యాదవ్ గార్లతో కలిసి ప్రయాణం చేయడం జరిగింది
ఆర్టీసీ బస్సులో మహిళా ప్రయాణికులతో ముచ్చటించడం జరిగింది @TGSRTCHQ @INCTelangana pic.twitter.com/SKpuUykNXD
— Ponnam Prabhakar (@Ponnam_INC) May 17, 2025
