Ponnam Prabhakar orders RTC to ensure smooth Medaram Jatara bus operations
Hyderabad: Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation to ensure seamless Medaram Jatara RTC bus operations so that devotees face no inconvenience during the tribal festival.
The minister issued the instructions during a review meeting with senior RTC officials at the Secretariat. He asked officials to deploy adequate additional buses and manage operations efficiently until the Medaram Jatara concluded. He also directed RTC officers to remain stationed at Medaram throughout the festival period to oversee services on the ground.
Ponnam Prabhakar recalled that during the previous Medaram Jatara, RTC operated 3,491 buses and transported 16.82 lakh passengers. This year, officials expect nearly 20 lakh passengers to travel by RTC. Accordingly, the corporation has planned to operate around 4,000 buses, he said.
The minister noted that routes from Warangal, Hanumakonda, Khammam and Karimnagar were likely to witness heavy rush. Therefore, he instructed officials to remain prepared to operate additional services on these corridors based on demand.
Medaram Jatara RTC operations to include safety outreach and infrastructure push
At the temporary bus station set up at Medaram, the minister directed officials to display district-wise bus information at queue lines. He asked RTC to coordinate closely with the police to regulate crowds and ensure smooth boarding.
Ponnam Prabhakar also ordered the preparation of an action plan to construct a permanent RTC complex at Medaram that reflects local culture and traditions. He said such infrastructure would help manage future festivals more efficiently.
As part of the National Road Safety Month, the minister instructed RTC to create awareness among devotees to reduce road accidents. He asked officials to use hoardings, bus stations and in-bus television displays to spread awareness on traffic rules.
The minister reviewed pending RTC works and bus station development projects. He directed officials to speed up execution. He also asked RTC to prepare infrastructure, including charging stations, for the introduction of electric buses in Hyderabad.
Ponnam Prabhakar said the city needed more bus terminals on the lines of JBS and MGBS. He instructed officials to study land availability and coordinate with district collectors. He further directed RTC to expand services on new routes across Telangana and align future planning with Vision 2047 goals, including increasing fleet strength and manpower.
