TSRTC bus at Mehdipatnam bus stop / Photograph by Aditya Kaushik

TSRTC Plagued by Systemic Issues that Need Urgent Measures

Even though the state transport department is developing new schemes to improve its service, it has yet to take any actions to tackle the persistent but neglected issues. Overcrowding and rash driving are some of the biggest concerns.

Aditya Kaushik

TSRTC bus at Koti bus stop / Photograph by Aditya Kaushik

Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) plays a significant role in the lives of people residing in Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana. The TSRTC network functions like the veins of Hyderabad, as it helps thousands of passengers throughout the city to move around all day.

However, with such an extensive network, TSRTC has different levels of operations, which become tough to run in sync constantly, leading to various problems. Accidents caused by TSRTC buses have been in the news for two years. These accidents are caused by operational failures at multiple levels.

A major accident that occurred in recent times was that of a 17-year-old girl from Avanti College, who died after falling from the footboard of a running bus.

Another woman passenger from Aurora Scientific and Technological Institute got injured while trying to board a running bus. She fell, only to get her legs run over by the bus. These are clear examples of irresponsible behaviour by TSRTC employees.

Similar incidents occur almost every day. Amarnath Gaud, a Sub Inspector at Gachibowli Traffic Police Station, informs, "We receive many complaints every day regarding incidents of bus-related accidents, but only cases with critical casualties get recorded."

TSRTC is coming up with different types of new schemes and programs every day. Even though most of these programs could benefit the passengers, they do not deal with the current issues causing accidents. The safety protocols in place are not functioning properly.

TSRTC must shift their focus from feel-good programs and schemes and address the real issues at hand.

A History of TSRTC in Hyderabad

Before diving into the TSRTC service system, we should look at the corporation's history.

Initially established as Nizam State Rail and Road Transport Department (NSR-RTD) in 1932, it was renamed in 1958 as Andhra Pradesh State Transport Corporation (APSRTC) under the 1950's Transport Corporation Act.

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh state into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, two wings of RTC started to function in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from 2015 to 2016. Thereafter in accordance with the 1950s Transport Corporation Act, the state government of Telangana established Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC).

Passengers Speak Out

There are several issues passengers face every day while travelling in TSRTC buses. Overcrowding and lack of punctuality of buses are two examples.

Yatharth Kumar, 22, takes the bus from his college to a sports academy for badminton practice four days a week. He is indignant. "Most of the time, the buses are late in the evening. I cannot leave my classes before they end at 5 PM, so I end up missing up to an hour of practice," he says.

Passengers sitting at Mehdipatnam bus stop / Photograph by Meenakshi B.

He is not the only one facing this issue. Vinod Kumar, 36, is a professor at a polytechnic college in Hyderabad. He backs up Kumar, "There are a limited number of buses on the route, and they are never on time. In the mornings, to avoid being late to work, I end up taking private buses. They cost double the fares offered by TSRTC buses."

Both cases point to tardy bus timetables, irrespective of the time of day.

According to passengers' accounts, another problem compounded by the lateness of buses is their overcrowding. One of the major accidents mentioned earlier happened because of overcrowding. Passengers packed into buses end up standing on the footboard, which invites serious mishaps.

Somya Preeti, a 26-year-old, is the Assistant Regional Manager at ICICI Bank's Gachibowli branch. She recounts her harrowing experience. "Every day I take the bus from Wipro Circle to my office. It is always overcrowded. One time I was late and had to stand on the footboard, I fell off as soon as the bus started and hurt my wrist," she says.

Several cases like Preeti's occur every day, but they do not get highlighted because the incidents are not severe.

A woman falling off a running bus / Illustration by Sayanjit S. Sengupta

Mohammed Shahzad, a daily passenger of TSRTC buses, says, "There are no bus stands near my home, so I have to board hurriedly when the buses slow down. Many a time, this feels risky and dangerous."

Several civilian complaints and reviews about TSRTC on Indian Consumer Complaint Forum highlight the carelessness of drivers, misconduct of bus conductors, buses not halting at their designated stops, speeding and rash driving.

All is Good, Say the Officials

In the past year, TSRTC has rolled out many initiatives. The TSRTC bus tracking app is one of the corporation's few practical solutions.

The app can help passengers get real-time locations of buses. With the help of this app, passengers can plan their journey according to bus time. The app is expected to not only take care of the issue of bus timing but also help manage excessive crowding. The only problem is that the app is not working properly.

Biplav Reddy, a Project Manager at TSRTC, Hyderabad Head Office, says, "The app is being developed in a phased manner. The data for the intercity buses are already online. But, the data for the buses running inside the city will take some time to be made available."

Despite the statement, the question remains - will proper attention be given to the app before more mishaps happen?

On being asked about the recent accidents that happened due to a lack of buses and overcrowding, Yakaswami Gorath, who is the Public Relations Officer at TSRTC Hyderabad office, says, "There is no lack of buses, accidents happen because of the peak hour rush." He adds, "According to our plans, 1016 new buses will be added on the road by the end of 2025."

Man trying to catch a running bus / Illustration by Sayanjit S. Sengupta

Despite agreeing that these accidents happen because of overcrowding, the officials refuse to accept any part in causing them. They also informed that appropriate actions are taken against the drivers and conductors in such cases. The staff are suspended until the end of the enquiry. If the accident is fatal, they are suspended permanently.

"Nothing is in our hands"

In most accidents, fingers are first pointed at the drivers and conductors of the buses involved.

But, Katta Jagan, who has been a driver in TSRTC for almost 20 years now, says, "My job as a driver is to only drive, and I have no say over the number of passengers boarding the bus." He laments, "We drivers are made scapegoats in most cases even when the accident was not our fault."

TSRTC driver Katta Jagan on duty / Photograph by Aditya Kaushik

Chetawat Pandu, a conductor for TSRTC buses, says, "I can't control the number of passengers. If I ask them not to board the bus because it's full, the public will thrash me. So, I have to stay quiet and let in anyone who wants to board."

"We drivers are made scapegoats in most cases even when the accident was not our fault."

These comments show that bringing changes is not just the responsibility of the authorities; the passengers also have to be responsible for their actions.

The Long Road Ahead

Vijay Kumar, a Hyderabad-based independent road safety expert, has previously worked extensively with the Indian Federation of Road Safety. He maintains that many steps are involved in resolving safety issues related to bus services.

He says, "One or two decisions or schemes won't make a difference. A lot has to change to see the real difference. I have been working in the field for ten years and have never seen anything change because a scheme was rolled out."

Road safety expert Dheerendra Rehmani, who works with Safe Drive India, explains, "Lack of proper defensive driving training of the TSRTC drivers is the main reason for these accidents. Organizations do not want to spend too much money on training. This attitude needs to change and quality training of drivers must be prioritized."

He also comments on other areas that need interventions. "Infrastructure of bus stands such as well-maintained waiting areas and signages need to be updated and maintained regularly." He says, "Drivers do not know where to stop and keep the bus running. This forces people to catch the running buses, putting them at risk of grave accidents."

"Organisations do not want to spend too much money on training. This attitude needs to change and quality training of drivers must be prioritised."

The on-ground investigation of the issue suggests that the problems are rampant and recurring. However, it is only discussed when an incident occurs and is sidelined again after some time.

A better safety standard should be established by the authorities, and schemes should be made to handle current problems. Also, they have to make sure whatever scheme they come out with is solid and functional at ground level, not just on paper.

Photograph on homepage by Aditya Kaushik

This article was published on 26 April, 2023.

Aditya Kaushik is a journalist. He is passionate about storytelling and currently pursuing his Master's in Communication at the University of Hyderabad. adrajput33@gmail.com