Hyderabad’s iconic double-decker buses to hit the roads again after decades

The forever charming and iconic double-decker buses in Hyderabad are soon to make a come back. The Telangana RTC has asked experienced manufacturers to submit tenders for procurement of 25 double-decker non-A/C buses. The state government started talking about bringing these legendary buses back in November when KT Rama Rao (Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development) shared the stories from his school days and how these buses were an important part of his life.

Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, took to Twitter and wrote, “I have many fond memories of riding the double-decker bus on my way to St George’s Grammar School at Abids”.

The Transport Minister asked the officials of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) to form a committee that will review the possibility of the double-decker buses in the city after all these years. The minister’s proposal of getting back double-decker buses on Hyderabad roads has received support from a number of people.

The committee has already suggested few routes for the buses and now TSRTC is planning to introduce 25 double-decker buses. The routes are likely to be Secunderabad- Patencheru, CBS-Jedimetla, Secunderabad-Medchal, Kothi-Patencheru and Afzalgunj- Mehdipatnam.
The tender notice released by the government reads, "The bidder shall design, manufacture, test, supply and commission the above buses. The tenderer shall be well established and must have manufacturing and supply facilities of fully built buses in India".

Till 1990’s, double-decker buses were the lifeline of Hyderabad. But with the re-introduction of these buses, the city will literally go back in time and definitely woo tourists from all over.