Hyderabad’s iconic double decker buses made a comeback on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), K. T. Rama Rao, joined forces with Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari to launch three electric-powered double-decker buses in the presence of MP G. Ranjith Reddy, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, and the Special Chief Secretary of MA&UD, Arvind Kumar.
The deployment of three electric double decker buses along a heritage circuit in Hyderabad, aimed at boosting tourism, was launched by the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) K. T. Rama Rao, the Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, MP G. Ranjith Reddy, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, and the Special Chief Secretary of MA&UD Arvind Kumar. The buses will initially be used around the Formula E race track, covering the Tank Bund, Necklace Road, Paradise, and Nizam College stretch, according to a statement from the MA&U department.
The three electric double decker buses measure 9.8 meters in length and 4.7 meters in height, with a capacity of 65 passengers and the driver on two levels. They can travel up to 150 kilometers on a single charge that takes two to two-and-a-half hours, according to the statement from the MA&U department.
The conventional double decker buses, initially started by the Nizam, plied in the city up to 2003, after which they were discarded.
At the request of a citizen on Twitter, K. T. Rama Rao directed officials to investigate the possibility of restoring the double decker buses. As the TSRTC was unable to purchase new buses due to the impact of the pandemic, the task was handed over to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).
At the request of a Twitter user, Minister K. T. Rama Rao asked officials to investigate the feasibility of bringing back the iconic double-decker buses. With the TSRTC struggling due to the pandemic, the task was assigned to the HMDA. As a result, the HMDA ordered six electric double-decker buses, with three already delivered and launched, and the rest expected shortly. The agency has plans to expand the fleet to 20 buses, each costing ₹2.16 crore with an annual maintenance contract for seven years.
