Mahalakshmi scheme: Most women taking buses for short distances

Women passengers using the Mahalakshmi scheme are travelling short distances in the city for very less number of bus stops. A survey of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) revealed that most of the women passengers are travelling between 10 and 16 kilometers’ distance.
Many of them thought that by using the Mahalakshmi scheme, women passengers are travelling very long distances, but they are travelling between less number of bus stops.
As many of the passengers are using buses for short distances, the TGSRTC officials are planning to run buses for short distances. As of now they are discussing the pros and cons of the decision on short distance services.
Due to passengers taking buses for less number of bus stops, it is affecting the long distance buses rounds between designated bus stops.  If the short distance bus services are started in the city, the long distance buses would reach early to the last stop.
For example, before the Mahalakshmi scheme was implemented a bus travelled between LB Nagar to Patancheru within one-and-a-half hours. Now it is taking around two or more hours of time. So taking the time into consideration, the TGSRTC is thinking of starting buses for short distances.
A TGSRTC source said that around 14 lakh women passengers in the city are daily using the Mahalakshmi scheme.
A few days back, TGSRTC MD VC Sajjanar said that an average of 45 lakh people travelled every day, but the number increased to 55 lakh per day in the State.