Hyderabad bus fare hiked - Commuters face ₹500 monthly hit

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has increased city bus fares in Hyderabad, citing the need to fund the maintenance and infrastructure of its expanding electric bus fleet. The move, however, is drawing mixed reactions, as it adds roughly ₹500 per month to the average commuter’s travel expenses.

Under the revised structure, fares for city services including Ordinary, Metro Express, and Electric variants have gone up by ₹5 for short distances and ₹10 for longer stages beyond the fourth stop. Officials said the additional revenue would help cover maintenance, depot charging facilities, and energy costs as TGSRTC transitions toward 2,800 electric buses within the Outer Ring Road area by 2027.

The corporation maintains that the hike is limited to Hyderabad and will ensure cleaner, more reliable public transport in the long term. However, the change comes as many households are already grappling with rising living costs, leading to criticism from sections of the opposition, including BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, who termed it an “unnecessary burden on the poor and middle class.”

While TGSRTC recorded a modest profit in FY24 after years of losses, it continues to face high operational costs, particularly in fuel, electricity, and employee expenses. The corporation expects the fare revision to strengthen its finances and sustain its e-bus operations, which are part of Telangana’s broader clean mobility initiative.