The Telangana government has introduced a series of initiatives aimed at easing the daily struggle of commuters in Hyderabad. The new launches include there will be a single pass for the Hyderabad Metro and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) buses, the ‘MeeTicket’ mobile app and a digital weekly bus pass.
The initiatives were jointly made by the Telangana government, TGSRTC and Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL).The new initiative were launched by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka during an event at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad on Friday. AMong the attendees, Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Ministers Vivek Venkataswamy and Mohammed Azharuddin, and others.
The initiative is aimed to cater passengers travelling between Metro stations and residential or commercial areas. By integrating bus and Metro services, the government expects the common-pass system to encourage greater use of public transport and help reduce traffic congestion and vehicular pollution.
Check prices of common pass
The new Metro-RTC Common Pass permitted commuters to use both Hyderabad Metro services and eligible TGSRTC city buses with a single pass. The pass will be made available in daily and monthly variants. The daily common pass costs Rs 400, comprising Rs 300 for Metro travel and Rs 100 for RTC bus services. The monthly pass is priced at Rs 8,500, including Rs 7,000 for Metro travel and Rs 1,500 for RTC services.
Passengers can use the TGSRTC city buses and Hyderabad Metro trains operating within the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The scheme particularly excludes Pushpak bus services from the mandate.
The passes are available at Hyderabad Metro stations. A refundable Rs 100 card deposit is charged when the card is issued for the first time. The deposit is refunded when the card is returned.
Perks of having Mee Ticket App
TGSRTC has also introduced the ‘MeeTicket’ mobile app, assisting residents to purchase tickets and passes in an online mode. Commuters can select their boarding point and destination through the app, make online payments and receive a digital ticket featuring a dynamic QR code. The app also allows users to purchase daily, weekly and monthly bus passes.
The authorities have made a digital tracking system to reduce dependence on paper tickets and eliminate the need for passengers to carry cash or worry about change. It is also expected to make the ticketing process quicker and more convenient.
Weekly Digital Bus Passes
One of the significant initiatives during the Friday launch included a weekly bus pass priced at Rs 600.The passes could be purchased through the MeeTicket app and comes with a dynamic QR code that passengers can scan or display while travelling. According to reports on the launch, the pass allows unlimited travel on eligible city bus services for seven days.
Rickshaw Prices Surge
Alongside the Metro and RTC initiatives, the Telangana government has also revised auto-rickshaw fares, recognising the sector as an important component of the city’s public transport network.Under the revised structure, the minimum auto-rickshaw fare is set at Rs 30 for the initial 1.6 km, with subsequent distance charged at Rs 14 per kilometer.The waiting fee is fixed at Rs 0.75 per minute. Additionally, qualifying luggage incurs a fee of Rs 0.50, up to a maximum allowed limit of 100 kg.