Samaikyandhra stir stops buses in their tracks

The corporation reeling under losses has already suffered damage worth Rs.25 crore

For the third consecutive day, the APSRTC as well as the private bus operators cancelled a majority of buses running towards the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions following the ongoing Samaikyandhra agitations.

Everyday about 300 buses are operated from the MGBS towards Bangalore, Kurnool and Rayalaseema regions. But for the last few days, APSRTC has cancelled all buses for the fear of attacks and services getting damaged ever since the agitations picked up at different places after declaration of the Telangana State.

Consequently, the usual passenger rush was missing at MGBS and key boarding points for the city - Ameerpet, S.R.Nagar, Kukatpally and few other areas on Friday. Situation is near similar about services towards the coastal Andhra region. Though, a few RTC services were being operated till Vijayawada, most buses towards Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam and other coastal districts have been cancelled.

Everyday about 130 buses arrive and return from the capital towards coastal Andhra region. Of these, only 40 per cent were being operated and that too with poor seat occupancy, said an official. Till date, 35 buses were damaged partially and on Friday, there were zero operations in Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa and West Godavari districts, he said. The corporation reeling under losses has already suffered damage worth Rs.25 crore.

Similarly, private bus operators, who operate about 100 buses towards Bangalore and Rayalaseema region, have also cancelled their services. The normal weekend rush by employees and students to their respective towns and villages has been missing at the ticket booking points.

This has forced the private bus operators to cancel about 350 buses running towards Vijayawada, Bangalore and Tirupati. “It is risky to operate buses now. People too are not willing to travel to these regions due to security concerns,” said H.S.C Bose, honorary president, A.P. Private Bus Operators Association.

“Ticket bookings for the next few days are also not encouraging either. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best,” is the common refrain from both the State run and private services. About restoring of normal services, authorities informed that final decision would be taken depending on the situation and as per police instructions.