Double-decker buses to make a comeback in Hyderabad

​Six electric double-decker buses are ready to be operated on important tourism routes in the city.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Urban Development Authority (HMDA) purchased the buses at a cost of Rs 12.96 crore.

Arvind Kumar, secretary, municipal administration and urban development, said these buses will be fully operational on important routes from a tourism viewpoint.

The buses will be introduced soon on routes covering key city landmarks like Tank Bund, Birla Mandir, Assembly, Salar Jung Museum, Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Golconda, Taramati Baradari, Gandipet Park, Durgam Cheruvu, Cable Bridge, IT Corridor and Financial District.

The buses will leave on different roads from Tank Bund and return to the same point.

Authorities initially proposed to allow people to travel in these buses free of cost. Later, the passengers will be charged Rs 50 per head for every trip.

Double Decker buses have a historical relevance in Hyderabad. The conventional double decker buses were started by the Nizam and plied in the city until 2003.

It was in 2020 that municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao had accepted a proposal to re-introduce double-decker buses.

HMDA plans to extend this fleet up to 30 buses. According to officials, the price of each bus is 2.16 crore and comes with an AMC of seven years.