State-run buses in Hyderabad used to have special seats for female passengers and occasionally ran special buses on specific routes. However, with the State government’s scheme providing free travel for women on TSRTC buses, the number of women passengers has significantly increased, causing men to struggle to find a seat. To address this issue, TSRTC has introduced a “gents special” bus on the Ibrahimpatnam-LB Nagar route during peak hours.
Since the introduction of free bus travel for women, some women have been sitting in the back seats of the bus, leading to overcrowding and difficulties for male passengers. In response, officials at the Ibrahimpatnam Depot have introduced a men-exclusive bus during peak hours. This decision was made after The Hans India raised the issue of passengers, particularly college students, who have been facing numerous difficulties on the Ibrahimpatnam-LB Nagar route.
According to The Hans India, overcrowding has become a problem for both male and female students who commute to educational institutions in the area. Female students have even been forced to resort to footboarding, a risky practice that could lead to accidents. As a result, the Ibrahimpatnam depot of RTC has launched the “Gents Special” service on the Ibrahimpatnam-LB Nagar route to manage heavy crowds during rush hours.
TSRTC executive director V Venkateshwarlu explained that the bus service was initiated to meet the demands of passengers, especially college students. A special bus for male passengers has been arranged at 8:30 am and during evening hours on the route. This initiative aims to provide a more comfortable and efficient travel experience for all passengers.