Hyderabad: Bringing a mixed bag of news for commuters, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) on Monday announced a revision of bus pass charges, while also extending the validity of student passes to Metro Express buses in Hyderabad.
In a move set to ease the morning and evening rush, TSRTC confirmed that students can now travel on Metro Express services in addition to the regular city ordinary buses. With increasing passenger volumes during peak hours, especially on busy suburban routes, the corporation said it hopes this decision will help manage overcrowding.
At the same time, TSRTC announced an increase in bus pass charges marking the first hike in three years citing rising operational costs. Regular monthly bus pass rates have risen by around 20 per cent. The ordinary pass now costs ₹1,400, up from ₹1,150; the Metro Express pass has been revised to ₹1,600 from ₹1,300; and the Metro Deluxe pass, previously ₹1,450, now costs ₹1,800. Even premium services like Greater Hyderabad and Green Metro AC passes have seen their prices climb.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has revised toll taxes across its network, prompting the TSRTC to adjust user charges as permitted under Government Order 24. Effective from June 9, TSRTC will collect an additional ₹10 per toll plaza from passengers only on routes that actually cross these toll booths. Importantly, this will not affect city passengers, as there are no toll plazas on core city routes.
TSRTC clarified that passengers travelling on non-toll routes will not have to pay this user charge.
The corporation stressed that the adjustments were necessary to keep services running smoothly and to cover rising operational expenses. “We remain committed to passenger safety and convenience,” a TSRTC official said, adding that efforts are on to strike a balance between affordability and sustainability.
