Politics
TGSRTC to deploy 7,000 special buses for Dasara
With Dasara festivities round the corner, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) on Wednesday said it would press into service as many as 7,000 special buses.
According to the TGSRTC, a total of 3,533 buses will be operated from the Karimnagar zone: 431 from Adilabad, 719 from, Nizamabad , 1,175 from Karimnagar, 530 from Warangal, and 678 from Khammam regions.
From the Hyderabad zone, 2,155 buses will be operated. This includes 645 from Mahabubnagar, 255 from Medak 255, 815 from Nalgonda, and 440 from Ranga Reddy .
As a step towards augmentation of services 1,312 special buses are scheduled to run from the Greater Hyderabad Zone. “Passenger traffic is expected to be particularly heavy on October 9, 10, 16, and 17,” officials said.
TGSRTC management has planned to make special buses available in accordance with the anticipated rush on these days. Efforts are under way to make arrangements for passengers returning home. Traffic of this sort is expected on October 25 and 26 .
Special buses will be operational from areas areas in Hyderabad such as MGBS, JBS, Uppal, Aramghar, LB Nagar Cross Roads, KPHB, Bowenpally, and Gachibowli.
Facilities such as pandals, canopies, chairs, public address systems, drinking water arrangements, and mobile toilets are being set up in these areas for the convenience of passengers.
TGSRTC management clarified that in 2003, the State government issued GO No 16 which authorised the corporation to adjust ticket fares up to 1.5 times the standard rate to cover the minimum diesel and operational costs incurred for these special buses. This flexibility applies exclusively to special buses operated during festivals and special occasions.
These revised fares apply only to special buses running within Telangana and to other States. The revised fares will be in effect on October 9, 10, 16, 17, 25 and 26, when traffic is expected to be heavy. Normal fares will continue to apply to regular buses, excluding the special services.
The Hindu·3 hours ago·2 min read
Politics
Former Minister Eshwarappa declines invite from Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena party
Former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said he received an invitation to join the Jana Sena Party, an NDA ally founded by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, but declined it, stating that he would not join any party other than the BJP.
Replying to a question at a press conference in Shivamogga on Wednesday, Mr. Eshwarappa said a representative of the Jana Sena Party met him and invited him to join. “It is also an ally of the NDA. He offered to make me the party’s in-charge in the State. Earlier, I had received invitations from Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and some Congress leaders as well. However, I have made it clear that I will not join any party other than the BJP,” he said.
The former Minister said the BJP was the first party he joined and he had never thought of joining any other. “If I am unable to return to the BJP, I will contest the next elections as an independent and win. Once I win, the party will automatically take me back into its fold,” he maintained.
Mr. Eshwarappa said talks on his return to the BJP were still on. He recently held a meeting with leaders and workers in the city. “Many of my well-wishers said I should return to the BJP. However, they wanted me to get an assurance from the party leadership that I would get the chance to contest the coming Assembly elections on the party ticket. In any case, my contesting in the 2028 Assembly elections is final,” he said.
He made it clear that either he or his son K.E. Kantesh would contest the Assembly elections. “Who will be the candidate will be decided at the time of the elections, after taking the opinion of followers into consideration,” he added.
Leaders of Rashtrabhaktara Balaga were present at the press conference.
Mr. Eshwarappa, a five-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister, was expelled from the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections after he chose to contest against the party’s official candidate.
The Hindu·3 hours ago·2 min read
