The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has increased ticket fares for special buses operating during the Raksha Bandhan festival, drawing criticism from passengers travelling across the state. To manage the festive rush, the corporation has deployed around 5,000 special buses between August 27 and August 31. However, several commuters expressed disappointment after discovering that they had to pay higher fares than usual, with many claiming they were not informed about the revised ticket prices before boarding.

Images of bus tickets shared on social media highlighted the fare increase. One ticket showed that the fare from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) to Jadcherla had been raised from the regular Rs 150 to Rs 190 on a special service. In another viral video, a passenger travelling from MGBS to Karimnagar said he paid Rs 400 for a Super Deluxe bus instead of the usual Rs 300. He questioned why passengers were not notified in advance about the higher fares, saying many only learned about the increase after purchasing their tickets.

Responding to the controversy, TGSRTC officials clarified that the fare hike applies only to special buses, while ticket prices for regular services remain unchanged. According to the corporation’s Public Relations Officer, the temporary increase is based on a 1981 government order, issued during the undivided Andhra Pradesh era, which permits charging up to 1.5 times the normal fare on special buses during major festivals. The transport corporation maintained that the policy has been followed for decades to meet the additional operational costs of running extra services during periods of heavy passenger demand.