The Sankranti festival season has once again brought massive travel demand across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. As lakhs of people rush to their hometowns to celebrate the harvest festival with family, bus ticket prices have increased drastically, shocking passengers.
Private bus operators have hiked fares multiple times higher than normal rates, especially on popular routes such as Hyderabad to Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Guntur, and Rajahmundry. In many cases, passengers are paying two to four times more than regular ticket prices.
Due to limited train availability and last-minute travel plans, many people are left with no option but to book costly private buses. AC sleeper and semi-sleeper buses have seen the highest surge, with fares touching levels similar to domestic flight tickets.
Government transport services like APSRTC and TSRTC have introduced special buses to handle the rush. However, even these special services come with increased fares, adding to the burden on middle-class and daily-wage travellers.
Passengers at major bus stations are facing overcrowding, long waiting times, and frequent ticket shortages. Many travellers have expressed anger on social media, accusing private operators of exploiting the festival season.
Transport authorities have warned private bus operators against overcharging and stated that action will be taken against those violating fare regulations. Travellers have been advised to report unfair pricing through official helplines.
As Sankranti is a festival of joy and togetherness, many hope that authorities will take stricter steps in future years to control fare hikes and ensure affordable travel for everyone.