Telangana Ministers Promote Metro RTC Common Pass With City Ride To Boost Seamless Public Transit Across Hyderabad
Top leaders of the Telangana government stepped away from their official convoys and boarded public transport to promote the newly introduced common travel pass across Hyderabad. Led by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, a ministerial delegation used a single transit ticket to travel across both train and bus networks. The public ride was organized to demonstrate how the unified pass eliminates the hassle of purchasing multiple tickets, cutting travel time and encouraging working professionals, students, and daily commuters to shift from private vehicles to public transit.
The journey began at the Begumpet Metro station, where the ministers joined regular passengers on the Hyderabad Metro Rail network. After boarding the train, the delegation traveled along the corridor up to the Jubilee Hills Checkpost station. Throughout the train journey, the ministers moved through the coaches, interacting directly with travelers, asking for their impressions of the service, and listening to suggestions regarding train frequencies and station facilities. Commuters expressed appreciation for the ease of entering stations without standing in long queues, welcoming the integration as a long-awaited improvement for daily city travel.
Upon reaching Jubilee Hills Checkpost, the leaders exited the station and immediately boarded a waiting Telangana State Road Transport Corporation bus, continuing their journey directly to the state secretariat. Using the very same pass to board the city bus, the ministers demonstrated the practical benefit of first- and last-mile connectivity. For thousands of office workers and students whose destinations are located away from railway stations, the ability to switch between trains and buses using a single ticket provides a smooth transit experience that eliminates confusion and saves significant daily commuting time.
Speaking during the journey, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka noted that the introduction of daily and monthly common passes has received strong initial encouragement from the public. He emphasized that the initiative was designed to make urban commuting convenient and affordable for all sections of society. He stated that the government is actively working on a broader plan to build an interconnected public transit network across the greater urban region, ensuring that public mobility keeps pace with the city's rapid expansion.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar highlighted the practical benefits of the unified card, explaining that seamless ticketing is essential to tackle rising traffic congestion on city roads. He explained that removing the barrier of buying separate tickets for different modes of transport saves both time and money for ordinary households. The minister also assured citizens that the government is closely tracking public opinion and will review pass pricing and ticket options based on direct feedback from regular passengers to ensure the scheme remains accessible to everyday wage earners and students.
The government also revealed plans to expand the single-pass concept beyond rail and large buses. Officials noted that future phases aim to integrate autorickshaws and app-based cab services into a shared digital platform. Transport authorities plan to hold discussions with auto-rickshaw unions to bring smaller feeder vehicles into the digital ecosystem, allowing commuters to book their entire journey from their home doorstep straight to their workplace using a single mobile application.
Senior administrative and transit officials accompanied the ministers during the demonstration ride, including transport department special chief secretary Vikas Raj, urban transport advisor N.V.S. Reddy, Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director Sarfaraz Ahmed, additional managing director B. Ajith Reddy, and road transport corporation managing director Y. Nagireddy. By experiencing public transport firsthand, the administration aims to identify operational gaps quickly, improve vehicle coordination, and establish a modern transit model for growing metropolitan centers across the country.