Hans News Service Karimnagar

Ina major boost to urban public transport, Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Thursday inaugurated City Metro Express bus services at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Bus Station in Karimnagar to improve connectivity and provide better commuting facilities for city residents.

Following the inauguration, the Minister, along with Choppadandi MLA Dr Medipally Satyam, Husnabad MLA Kavvampally Satyanarayana, Karimnagar Mayor Kolagani Srinivas, District Collector Chitra Mishra and senior officials, travelled in one of the newly introduced buses from the Karimnagar bus station to Vageshwari College. In the first phase, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) introduced City Metro Express services on three routes: Karimnagar–Vageshwari College, Karimnagar–Chinthakunta, and Karimnagar–Kothapalli Haveli.

Speaking on the occasion, Ponnam Prabhakar said the launch of the city bus services fulfilled a long-pending demand of Karimnagar residents and would strengthen the city’s public transport network in line with its growing population and expanding urban limits.

He said the government also plans to extend the services to Prathima, Chalmeda and Manakondur, with additional buses and round-the-clock operations to be considered based on passenger demand. Urging citizens to make greater use of public transport, the Minister said the government is expanding bus services across the State while strengthening TGSRTC through new buses, fresh recruitments and the Mahalakshmi Scheme, which provides free travel for women in RTC buses across Telangana. He added that TGSRTC currently operates nearly 35 lakh kilometres daily, serving around 65 lakh passengers across the State.