Hyderabad, 24 October (H.S.): Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a modern bus terminal at Uppal in Hyderabad, with the project estimated to cost Rs 3.22 crore. The government aims to complete the construction within 100 days, he said.

The terminal is being developed with financial support from the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation and will include passenger amenities such as a dedicated bus pass counter and an information centre. Around 1,053 bus trips are expected to operate from the terminal every day, serving nearly one lakh passengers.

The facility is expected to improve connectivity for residents of Uppal, Boduppal, Peerzadiguda, Ghatkesar, Malkajgiri and Ramanthapur to Secunderabad, the IT corridor, Patancheru and other destinations.

Prabhakar thanked the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation for allocating funds for the project and said the terminal would be developed with modern facilities and a passenger-friendly environment. Its name would be finalised through the appropriate process, he added.

Highlighting the state government's free bus travel scheme for women, the minister said around 367 crore journeys by women had been recorded under the initiative, resulting in estimated savings of Rs 12,888 crore.

He said the government was also working to improve passenger services and address pending dues of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees. Contributions to the Cooperative Credit Society and Provident Fund were being cleared in phases. Discussions had been held with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on clearing around Rs 1,400 crore in retirement-related dues to former RTC employees, and a decision was expected soon, he added.

The minister said the government had purchased more than 3,000 new buses and was working to introduce around 2,200 electric buses in Hyderabad under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The RTC was also introducing services on new routes based on passenger demand.

As part of efforts to promote cleaner transport, 250 old diesel buses were being converted through retrofitting. The government had allocated Rs 200 crore to encourage electric autos in the Cure Area and was offering a full exemption from road tax and registration fees for electric vehicles, he said.

Prabhakar further said steps were being taken to modernise vehicle fitness testing and driving licence services through Automated Testing Stations, strengthen road safety and phase out end-of-life vehicles through a scrappage policy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar