Double-decker buses return to Hyd streets: 3 electronic buses launched

Hyderabad: The first electronic double-decker buses hit the streets of Hyderabad city on Tuesday. The e-buses were officially launched by Telangana chief secretary Santhi Kumari in the presence of Minister of information technology, industries and commerce KTR.

As of now, three double-decker buses ordered by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HDMA) have been launched. Another three will be added shortly.

According to officials, each double-decker bus costs Rs. 2 crores. These buses, which can accommodate more than 60 persons, will be used for tourism along important routes in Hyderabad city. The buses are likely to run on routes that are free of flyovers.

The electronic buses were launched as an initiative of the Telangana government to showcase next-gen EV technologies and innovations at Hyderabad E-Mobility Week which is being held from 5 to 11 February. This is one of the attractions ahead of the FIA Formula E 2023 Greenko E-Prix, the first-ever green race that will be held on 11 February at the scenic Hussain Sagar lake.

Hyderabad earlier had double-decker buses that plied from Zoo Park to Secunderabad via Afzal Gunj and High Court. The proposal to restart double-decker buses in the city began last year after IT minister KTR posted a tweet about his memories of travelling in a double-decker bus on his way to St. George’s Grammar school at Abids.

History:

Double-decker buses have been part of the city’s heritage. They were originally brought in by the Nizams for better connectivity. In 1946, a set of 30 Albion CX 19 models were brought from England to Hyderabad. These buses used to ply on routes including Secunderabad-Mehdipatnam, Nampally-Charminar and Mehdipatnam-Dilsukhnagar.

The double-decker buses were phased out from city roads in the early 2000s due to operational and maintenance costs and lack of availability of spare parts. In early 2000's, one double-decker was introduced around the Hussain Sagar via Necklace Road to boost tourism, but it only ran for a short time. These buses were also seen in the Telugu movie ‘Bommarillu,’ starring Siddharth and Genelia.