The TSRTC has changed seating arrangements in State-run buses to accommodate more passengers, similar to Metro seating. This change comes as footfall in buses has increased due to the ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme, which offers free travel for women. The scheme has led to an increase in daily footfall from 11 lakh to 18-20 lakh, causing chaos and congestion in buses.
The Greater Hyderabad zone of TSRTC decided to implement Metro-like side-facing seating in city buses to provide more room for passengers and conductors. This change involved removing six seats from the middle section of buses to create more aisle space. However, this has led to decreased seating capacity and challenges for conductors in issuing tickets and checking ID cards due to the higher number of passengers, especially women, using the buses.
The new seating arrangement has been implemented in 25 buses on various routes with high passenger footfall. While some passengers appreciate the increased capacity to accommodate more passengers, others have raised concerns about the decreased seating capacity and the challenges of standing during peak hours and heavy traffic. Some passengers are calling for the government to increase the number of buses to address these issues.
