[19 October 2025] Telugu States — The ambitious Free Bus Transportation Scheme, launched to make public transportation more accessible for citizens, has led to an unforeseen rise in passenger numbers. While the initiative has succeeded in encouraging more people to choose buses as their mode of travel, the transport department is now facing mounting criticism for its inability to meet the growing demand.
Rising Passenger Numbers, Same Number of Buses
Despite the overwhelming success of the scheme, which was aimed at offering free rides to encourage the use of public transport, the number of buses has remained static. The scheme, which originally promised convenience and comfort, has now led to overcrowded buses and metro trains, with many passengers struggling to find a seat or even space to stand during their commute.
Commuters are increasingly finding themselves in uncomfortable situations, particularly during rush hours, where buses and trains are packed beyond capacity. The limited number of buses, combined with the surge in passengers, has created a perfect storm of overcrowding, making daily commutes a stressful experience for many.
Overcrowding and Inconvenience
"I was surprised by how many people were crammed into the bus today," said Ganesh Babu, a commuter. "There were no seats available, and I had to stand for the entire journey. It was exhausting, and the conditions felt unsafe with people standing too close to one another. So, I postponed my Trip to hometown from the city terminal."
The situation is not unique to buses alone; metro trains, which were once considered a more comfortable alternative, are also facing the same issue. Despite efforts to expand metro services, the surge in demand has outpaced the capacity of the current fleet, leading to similar overcrowding problems in trains.
"The metro was supposed to be a solution to the traffic woes and overcrowded buses, but now it's just as packed as the buses," said Meera Sai, another commuter. "It feels like the transport department didn’t anticipate this level of popularity. The scheme is great, but the infrastructure is not keeping up. She was feeling unsafe to stand with strangers and travel in over crowded bus, she is not ready to face physical harassment by stranger."
Transport Department may Under Pressure!
The primary issue lies in the mismatch between the growing number of passengers and the fixed number of buses. While the state governments is lauded for launching the Free Bus Transportation Scheme as a welfare initiative, the transport department is now facing criticism for not expanding the fleet of buses to accommodate the increase in ridership. The lack of sufficient buses has led to uncomfortable travel conditions in high traffic zones, with many passengers expressing frustration over long waiting times more than 150 minutes to reach 20 km approx., overcrowded vehicles, and inadequate seating.
Sothern states Governments need to immediately initiate plans to increase the number of buses and ensure better services for all passengers.
Solutions and Improvements
To address the ongoing issue, experts suggest several solutions, including increasing the frequency of buses, adding more vehicles to the fleet, and considering larger electric buses that can accommodate more passengers by providing separate bus route for buses only. In addition, expanding the metro network and improving scheduling could help alleviate the pressure on both buses and trains.
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| Free Bus Transportation Scheme |
Some commuters have also suggested introducing a booking or reservation system for peak hours to help manage overcrowding and ensure that people are not left stranded due to full buses. The booking systems will alert the authorities to better management and also help themselves to provide special buses in heavy number of tickets bookings zone.
Conclusion
While the Free Bus Transportation Scheme has proven to be a step forward in making public transportation more accessible, it has also exposed a significant flaw in the system: the failure to scale infrastructure in line with demand. As the number of passengers continues to rise, it is crucial for the transport department to take immediate action to expand capacity, improve services, and ensure a safe and comfortable journey for all passengers. Without these critical improvements, what was intended as a benefit to the public may quickly become a source of frustration and inconvenience.
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