Hyderabad: The transport departments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have finally agreed to resume the inter-state bus services with immediate effect from Monday evening. The MDs of TSRTC and APSRTC signed in a MoU in the presence of Telangana Transport Minister Puvada Ajay Kumar on Monday, includes the number of Kms each state transport undertaking should run in either state.

Telangana Transport Minister said that the TSRTC will operate 826 buses across 1, 61, 258 Kms in Andhra Pradesh and APSRTC will operate 638 buses across 1, 60, 999 Kms in Telangana. With both the Corporations coming to an agreement to operate around 1, 60, 000 Kms, we believe that APSRTC will also see profits under the current pandemic situation. However, when the requirement arises, both the Corporations, on a parity basis, will try to meet the demand and requirement of the public, said Minister. He also added that running the services in profits is the big challenge in the current situation.

Inter-state public transport services between the two states have remainded suspended since March 24^th, when the Covid- 19 induced lock down was put in place. The services did not resume even after the unlock measures came into force as the profitable routes such Vijayawada- Hyderabad sector had become the main bone of contention between both the states.

Routes and Buses:

1. Vijayawada route and beyond: TSRTC to operate 273 buses across 52, 944 Kms in AP and APSRTC to run 192 buses across 52, 524 Kms in Telangana.
2. Kurnool and beyond: TSRTC will operate 213 buses across 43, 456 Kms in AP and APSRTC 146 buses across 43, 202 Kms in Telangana.
3. Piduguralla/ Guntur route via Wadapally: TSRTC will operate 67 buses in AP; APSRTC will operate 88 buses in Telangana.
4. Hyderabad to Srisailam: TSRTC will operate 62 buses in AP and APSRTC will not operate buses on this route in Telangana.
5. Macharala: TSRTC will operate 66 buses and APSRTC will operate 61 buses vice versa.
6. Nuzvid, Tiruvur, Bhadrachalam- Vijayawada and beyond: TSRTC will operate 48 buses and APSRTC will operate 65 buses.
7. Khammam, Jeelugumilli, Jangareddygudem and beyond: TSRTC will operate 35 buses and APSRTC will operate 58 buses.