Luxury buses too pricey to ride in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Less than two months after being launched amidst much fanfare, KCR’s ambitious metro luxury bus project seems to have fallen flat. According to official data, the 80 air-conditioned buses that hit the city streets last November, are already struggling to find takers, its ‘hi-tech’ features notwithstanding. So much so that the occupancy rate on three of the four routes they ply on is below 35%, whereas RTC officials have set a minimum target of 73%.
“These buses are too expensive. A minimum fare of Rs 15 and an additional Rs 5 for every two kilometers is not an economically viable option for daily passengers,” reasoned Sai Krishna, who frequently commutes between Secunderabad and Hi Tec City. The tickets for these buses, which ply on four routes – Dilsukhnagar-Patancheru (218D), Uppal-Waverock (113 M/W), Koti-Patancheru (222) and ECIL-Waverock (17H/10W) – are priced between Rs 15 and Rs 115.
So, while a passenger travelling from ECIL to Waverock has to cough up Rs 115 if he takes the metro luxury bus ride, the same journey will cost him about Rs 50 if he takes an ordinary bus instead. There is also the option of a direct metro bus from ECIL to Kondapur (route 147), which is very popular among commuters and is way cheaper than the luxury version that boast of having GPS tracking mechanism.
Another reason for the commuters shying away from using these luxury buses is lack of provision for seasonal passes. The only option that comes remotely close to a pass is a ‘combo ticket’ that can be availed by commuters with a normal pass. This brings the one-way ticket rate, to any destination within city limits, down to Rs 35. But that too isn’t very cheap, complain passengers, who would rather opt for shared cabs plying towards Hi Tec City.
“Cab drivers usually oblige to ferry commuters from Secunderabad to Hi Tec City for Rs 15-30. Though the cabs are not regular as they are hired full-time by companies, there’s nothing like it if you manage to get one,” said Khalid Ahmed, a student.
Not surprisingly then, RTC officials are faced with poor footfall on these otherwise pretty pink and white public vehicles. “Each of these buses runs on a cost of Rs 62 per kilometre. If we calculate the amount spent on them, the occupancy rate requires to touch 73% to break even,” said Vijayalakshmi, an RTC official, confessing that this fleet is nowhere close to that figure yet.
“The occupancy on an average is between 30% and 35%. The only route that is showing some promise is the Dilsukhnagar-Patancheru route that has occupancy of about 65%,” Vijayalakshmi added.