Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao on Sunday accused the Revanth Reddy govt of burdening people with steep bus fares during Bathukamma and Dasara, alleging that Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) was charging nearly double the regular fares in the name of festival special services.In a statement, Harish Rao said the govt should have offered concessions to people travelling to their native places for festivals instead of increasing fares. He alleged that regular bus services were being reduced and existing buses were being operated as special services to collect higher fares from passengers.Citing examples, he said a ticket from Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) to Karimnagar, which normally costs ₹230, was being sold for ₹400. Similarly, fares from Mahabubnagar to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) had increased from ₹220 to more than ₹290, he alleged.Harish Rao questioned the govt’s policy of providing free bus travel to women while charging higher fares to other family members. “One hand offers free travel while the other imposes double charges. Is this what people-friendly governance means?” he asked.The BRS leader further alleged that RTC fares had been increased five times during the Congress govt’s three-year tenure and that festival travel was becoming increasingly expensive for poor and middle-class families.Harish Rao demanded that the govt immediately withdraw what he termed arbitrary festival fare increases and ensure that regular bus services continued as usual.
