MIM seeks better transport facilities in Old City

Hyderabad: MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi demanded that the State Government improve public transport system in the Old City of Hyderabad.

Raising the issue during Question Hour in Telangana Legislative Assembly on Saturday, Akbaruddin Owaisi accused the government of giving step motherly treatment to the Old City by not providing adequate transport facilities.

He demanded that the RTC introduce mini buses in the Old City and all bus stops should have sign boards also in Urdu language. He said that more than 15 years old buses were being operated on the Old City routes. He also sought complete details like AC, Luxury and mini-buses which are being operated in the Old City.

Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the people of Old City were forced to travel in auto-rickshaws by paying charges of Rs. 40-50 even for shorter distances. This is also leading to vehicular pollution.

MIM MLAs Maozam Khan and Jaffer Meraj Hussain also complained of inadequate RTC services in their constituencies.

In his reply, Transport Minister Mahender Reddy assured that the RTC would introduce new buses in the Old City from



the first week of April. He said that the RTC proposes to introduce mini buses in several areas of the Old City.

The minister informed that RTC buses commute nearly 33 lakh people every day. Presently, the corporation is plying 3,519 in Greater Hyderabad limits which include 2,283 ordinary buses, 882 Metro Express, 150 Metro Deluxe, 160 AC, 100 mini and 131 CNG buses.

He said there were 9,000 drivers and 9,000 conducters including 1635 women. He said that the RTC has no buses which are 15 years old or those travelled 13.50 lakh KM of distance. He said there were about 300 vacancies in the RTC in Hyderabad. He also informed that 230 new mini buses would be introduced in the month of April.

Mahender Reddy said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has allocated Rs. 140 crore for the RTC in the budget for 2017-18. He said that the RTC bus services would be linked to public hospitals.

He also assured to convene a meeting with the city legislators to discuss measures to improve RTC services in Greater Hyderabad. He said that the new bus depots at Falaknuma would be inaugurated in the next three months.