Hyderabad is gearing up for the upcoming assembly polls, and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is strategically aiming to capitalize on this election season to enhance its revenue streams. As the Assembly elections draw near, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is strategizing to optimize the election season. They aim to ensure ample bus availability for voters, planning to hire buses for political parties’ election meetings. Many individuals will travel to their home constituencies to vote on November 30, necessitating increased buses and frequency due to discrepancies in their voting and residing constituencies, often not updated in electoral rolls.
The RTC authorities are laying out comprehensive plans to ensure an ample fleet of buses for commuters, intending to both increase the number of buses available and boost the frequency of trips. Their strategy encompasses not only facilitating voters’ transportation but also deploying buses for the relocation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and renting out buses for election-related events organized by different political parties. Directives have already been dispatched to depot-level officials regarding this multi-pronged approach.
Amidst the electoral hustle, political party leaders and activists typically reserve private vehicles and buses. TSRTC officials aim to gather information on public gatherings across various locations to adjust services or lease buses to these political groups.
The challenge of citizens traveling to their hometowns to cast their votes on election day persists, mainly due to discrepancies between their voting constituency and their current place of residence listed in the electoral rolls. TSRTC plans to identify such voters requiring long-distance travel and, with the cooperation of local leaders, arrange buses for them on a rental basis. Additionally, the corporation intends to deploy staff at strategic points to encourage citizens to use buses on the polling day. Moreover, plans are underway to persuade political party leaders and activists to utilize RTC buses for transporting campaign materials to different campaign locations.
Traditionally, during elections, the Election Commission typically reserves private and heavy vehicles to transport election officers and EVMs to polling stations and secure areas. TSRTC officials are contemplating having the Election Commission book RTC buses for similar purposes, further expanding their involvement in the electoral process.
An official from TSRTC stated, “In collaboration with local leaders, RTC will identify voters needing long-distance travel to vote and arrange hired buses. The corporation plans to station staff at key points to promote bus usage on polling day.” Additionally, they aim to lease buses for political party meetings and actively encourage party leaders and activists to utilize RTC buses for transporting people to meetings and distributing campaign materials across various locations.