The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) is set to expand its fleet by adding 70 new Metro Deluxe buses to the 55 already operating in Hyderabad. These new buses will serve major routes including Uppal, Mehidipatnam, Secunderabad, ECIL, Jagadgirigutta and LB Nagar.

The Metro Deluxe buses will be operated on high demand routes with improved frequency, with 15-20 minute intervals. The current routes covered by TGSRTC are Uppal-Mehdipatnam, Secunderabad-ECIL, Koti and Abdullahpurmet, which will provide better connectivity to commuters.

These buses, which are expected to hit the roads by the end of September, are different from the City Ordinary and Metro Express services, which are part of the Mahalakshmi scheme. Unlike those services, all passengers, including women, will have to pay a fare for the Metro Deluxe buses. The Mahalakshmi scheme, which benefits around 1.4 million women daily, does not apply to this new service.

The phased launch of the Metro Deluxe buses is aimed at creating a new revenue stream for TGSRTC, especially after a significant drop in fare revenue (around 70%) due to the Mahalakshmi scheme, which currently sees only 30% of passengers paying for their fares.

In August, TGSRTC announced the Metro Green Deluxe monthly bus pass fare of Rs 1,450, which allows travel on Metro Deluxe buses and Metro Express, e-Metro Express non-AC and City Ordinary buses within the city and suburbs. Additional pass options include Pushpak AC general monthly pass of Rs 5,000, Green Metro Luxury AC pass of Rs 1,900, Metro Express pass of Rs 1,300 and City Ordinary pass of Rs 1,150.