Hyderabad: Public transport across the city came to a near standstill after Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) buses stayed off roads from Tuesday midnight, following the workers’ strike. With buses confined to depots, lakhs of commuters were left stranded, scrambling for alternatives.Except for a handful of hired buses, most RTC services were suspended. The sudden vacuum triggered heavy overcrowding in metro trains and SETWIN services.Commuters also faced steep travel costs, with auto-rickshaws and cab operators allegedly exploiting the situation, especially on routes without metro connectivity. Many flagged the absence of fare regulation during emergencies.At key transit points like MGBS and JBS, long queues persisted through the day as passengers waited for transport to their hometowns. “I waited nearly an hour for a bus from LV Prasad to Secunderabad railway station but couldn’t find any. I finally booked an auto for Rs 300, while cabs were asking around Rs 400. It felt shocking, almost like paying for a sleeper-class ticket to Vijayawada,” said commuter B Vishwa.Union leaders claimed the strike saw strong participation. “The first day has been successful, with over 37,000 workers joining. More than 9,000 buses remained idle, while only about 5% of hired buses operated in select areas. We will continue until the govt addresses our 32 demands,” said RTC JAC leader E Venkanna.Authorities moved to ease the pressure. Metro officials are considering extending services beyond 11 pm and increasing train frequency. Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) said 56 trains would run across peak and non-peak hours, with frequencies maintained at 4.20 minutes on the Miyapur–LB Nagar corridor and 3.40 minutes on the Nagole–Raidurg stretch.Meanwhile, TGSRTC managing director Y Nagi Reddy termed the strike illegal and warned of strict disciplinary action, including salary cuts. He urged employees to return to duty, reiterating that management remains open to dialogue.
