War of words erupts between BRS and Congress over RTC fare hike
The political battle between the Congress government and the BRS over the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has intensified following the recent hike in bus fares across Hyderabad. What began as a pricing issue has now escalated into a full-blown political confrontation, with the BRS staging “Chalo Bus Bhavan” protests while the Congress accuses the former regime of having ruined the corporation during its decade-long rule.
BRS accuses Congress of hidden agenda
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and former minister T. Harish Rao demanded that the government immediately roll back the fare hike. They submitted a memorandum to TGSRTC Managing Director Nagireddy, alleging that the Congress government has raised fares five times in just 20 months.
Harish Rao criticized the move, saying that while women enjoy free rides under the Maha Lakshmi sche me, men are being forced to bear the additional burden. “Each male commuter is now paying nearly ₹500 extra per month,” he said.
KTR accused the government of plotting to privatize the RTC, claiming that major bus stations like Jubilee Hills and Hyderabad depots were recently used as collateral to raise ₹1,500 crore in loans. He also alleged that while the previous BRS government released ₹9,246 crore in grants, the current administration has not cleared pending dues of ₹1,353 crore under t he Maha Lakshmi scheme.
Congress hits back
Reacting sharply, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar accused the BRS of hypocrisy. “During its ten-year rule, the BRS didn’t purchase a single new bus or create a single job in RTC,” he said. “We are the ones adding thousands of buses, jobs, and improving infrastructure.”
He dismissed the privatization claims as “baseless,” asserting that the Congress government is focused on protecting public transport and employee welfare. “We are not a government that sells bus depots - we are strengthening them,” he added.
Congress supporters also took to social media, calling BRS protests “performative,” and blaming the party for RTC’s debts and mismanagement.
How the fare hike affects commuters
The newly introduce d “environment surcharge” will directly impact Hyderabad’s daily commuters. Depending on the type of bus and distan ce traveled, passengers will pay ₹5 to ₹10 extra per trip.
For instance, those traveling beyond the 4th stage in city or metro express buses, or beyond the 2nd stage in deluxe and AC buses, could see their monthly expenses rise by ₹300-₹600. Even short-distance commuters may pay ₹150-₹300 more per month.
The cost of going green
Despite the public outcry, the government argues that the fare hike is necessary to modernize public transport and reduce pollution. TGSRTC plans to introduce 2,800 new electric buses over the next two years, with charging infrastructure to be installed across 19 depots.
The corporation also intends to set up 10 new depots and 10 charging stations at an estimated cost of ₹392 crore. Officials say this financial strain leaves the organization little choice but to seek partial support from passengers.
Meanwhile, delays in government reimbursements f or the Maha Lakshmi free travel scheme have already put additional pressure on TGSRTC’s finances.
Environmental goals
The government approved the fare hike on September 23, framing it as a necessary step toward a “Clean and Green City.” TGSRTC officials urged citizens to view the increase as a “green contribution” rather than a burden.
Metro gaining ground
With the fare gap between RTC and Metro Rail narrowing, more commuters are shifting to the metro. Many prefer it for its speed and comfort, especially to avoid heavy road traffic. Once the cheaper alternative, RTC buses are now losing ground to metro trains in urban travel.
Political and public impact
The fare hike has hit the city’s middle-class workers and daily wage earners the hardest. While protests by BRS continue across Telangana, analysts believe a rollback is unlikely. Observers say this issue - combining public frustration and political blame games - could play a major role in the upcoming local body elections.