LOVE of Z: Know your City Buses !

Branding of City Buses, How many know that there are six different brands/classes of city buses in Hyderabad ? All of them charge different fares for same distance and every bus has different livery and seats. Let us learn more in the post below.

City Ordinary

Popularly known as 'rtc buses' or 'ordinaries' these have the lowest fare of all services starting at Rs.6. These red and white buses halt at all bus stops in the route and are generally slower than other services . Most of the buses are built on Ashok Leyland's Viking standard floor(900mm) chassis by RTC's bus building unit at Miyapur. After serving 10 lakh kilometers, all buses from higher service categories are rebuilt or rebranded as City Ordinary.

A Re-Built City Ordinary bus

Metro Express
Popularly known as 'express buses' these have a minimum fare of Rs.7. These blue and white buses halt only at 'high demand' bus stops in the route and are generally faster than City Ordinary. Currently there are three types of metro express buses serving in the city. The new BS4 buses sport graphics similar to City Ordinary buses but are in 'dark blue' color. Then, there are "JnNURM" metro express buses which are in dark blue and white which are known for their middle door. Oldest of the lot are light blue buses which are slowly being converted into City Ordinaries. Infact, the picture of City Ordinary bus in this post is of one such rebuilt bus. After complaints of rattling bodies, JnNURM buses are being rebuilt by RTC's bus building unit at Miyapur.

A semi low floor Metro Express bus parked in Patancheru

A new Metro Express bus parked at Moosarambagh

Metro Deluxe
Popularly known as 'deluxe buses' or 'veera buses' these have a minimum fare of Rs.8. These buses, similar to Metro Express halt only at 'high demand' bus stops in the route and are generally operated on long distance routes.Metro Deluxe buses have more comfortable seats than 'Metro Express; and technically they have no standing capacity. Hence the difference in fares. Currently there are four types of Metro Deluxe buses serving in the city. The new BS4 buses sport graphics similar to City Ordinary buses but are in 'green' color with 'pink' lines. Then, there are TATA Marcopolo low floor buses procured with JnNURM funds.These are best known for their rear engines and deafening noise they make. Apart from there are the first lot of buses in dark which are slowly being converted into City Ordinaries and the first AC buses of the city which have been converted to be operated as 'Metro Deluxe'.

A BS4 Metro Deluxe

A low floor Metro Deluxe parked at Patancheru

City Sheetal

These were the first AC buses Hyderabad got under JnNURM scheme and have a minimum fare of Rs.15. These buses, similar to Metro Express halt only at 'high demand' bus stops in the route and are generally operated on long distance routes. These are the AirConditioned versions of JnNURM Metro Deluxe buses and are cursed for their not-so-great AC .
*Hyderabad earlier had A/C semi low floor buses branded "SeetalaHamsa" ..All of these were later sent to north east and south east districts of AndhraPradesh to be operated as "Meghamala" - inter city A/C buses . All of them have now been broughtback to hyderabad after converting them as non A/C buses to be operated as "Metro Deluxe"

File picture of a City Sheetal bus heading towards Malakpet

Metro Luxury

Youngest of the lot, Metro Luxury buses are Hyderabad's first JnNURM-2 buses.Similar to Metro Express buses these halt only at 'high demand' bus stops in the route and are generally operated on long distance routes. There are 83 VOLVO buses being operated in this brand and have proven to be successful on at least two of the four routes .

Metro Luxury bus parked at Lingampally during shift change

Pushpak

These are the most expensive buses to commute in the city and the routes and schedules are tailor made to suit passengers travelling to/from the international airport at shamshabad. Currently buses are being operated on five routes . These are the first and only city buses in city to be operated on outer ring road and PVNR ExpressWay.