As the APSRTC failed to provide sufficient numbers of buses to meet the rush of thousands of voters from neighbouring states reaching Andhra Pradesh to cast their vote on Monday.
Lakhs of AP people are flocking to their own villages to vote from neighboring states. They are angry that APSRTC has acted negligently in running the buses required by the passengers. It is clear that in addition to regular services, RTC has arranged only very few special buses.
RTC arranged only 45 special buses from Hyderabad to Vijayawada on Saturday. Special buses have been arranged for Guntur 18, Machilipatnam 23, Eluru 20, West Godavari 16, East Godavari 7, Amalapuram 8, Kakinada 8, Anakapalli 1. RTC has not provided reservation facilities for special buses.
TSRTC is said to be arranging more special buses for Andhra Pradesh voters, than APSRTC. Sensing a huge rush of voters coming to AP, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has personally written a letter to APSRTC MD suggesting to provide sufficient additional buses.
He asked to run special buses from Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. But, the APSRTC has ignored all such requests. Many suspect that the officials may be facing political pressure to create inconvenience for voters who want to come from neighbouring states.
Even within AP also, APSRTC authorities ignored requests for special buses from major cities to villages. The rush for buses for elections is said to be on par with festival seasons like Dussehra and Sankranti. Voters are clamoring for buses at bus stands.
As private travellers are collecting four to five times of bus fares, common people are searching for RTC buses, but the authorities show most discontent towards their needs. They are seen waiting for the buses for hours with the determination to vote anyway.
Abnormal crowds waiting for buses are seen at Vijayawada bus stand. There is a shortage of buses from Vijayawada to Gudivada, Machilipatnam, Eluru and Guntur. There are not enough buses for both the Godavari and North Andhra districts. Passengers were lined up at the reservation counters for hours together.
