ఘన చరిత్ర - Rich Heritage

before we say anything thank you all for the support you have shown us in reaching 40,000 page views !  

Everyplace has a name and there is a history behind it. Towns have grown in to cities and cities have become mega cities. But, their humble beginnings hang around in the form of their Names. If we dig deep in to the history books, the names of the places reveal what they were before embarking on a long journey to become what they are today. 

Through this post we present to you the Rich Heritage of few places in AndhraPradesh and Telangana. Get prepared for a different Experience as we take you on a journey through the history, in the buses we love!! Relive the history of two Telugu states AndhraPradesh and Telangana.

భాగ్ నగర్ / భాగ్యనగరం - హైదరాబాద్
Bhagnagar / Bhagyanagaram - HYDERABAD

లష్కర్ - సికింద్రాబాద్
Lashkar - SECUNDERABAD

రాజేంద్రచోలపుర / విజయవాటిక / బెజ్జంవాడ /బెజవాడ - విజయవాడ
Rajendracholapura / Vijayavatika / Bejjamwada / Bezawada - VIJAYAWADA

వాల్టైర్ / వైజాగపట్నం - విశాఖపట్నం
Waltair / Vizagapatnam - VISAKHAPATNAM

సబ్బినాడు / ఎలగండ్ల - కరీంనగర్
Sabbinadu / Elagandla - KARIMNAGAR

ఇండూర్ - నిజామాబాద్
Indur - NIZAMABAD

విక్రమసింహపురి - నెల్లూరు
Vikramasimhapuri - NELLORE

కుండెనవోలు - కర్నూల్
Kundenavolu - KURNOOL

ఎదులాపురం - ఆదిలాబాద్
Edulapuram - ADILABAD

స్తంబాద్రి / కంబంమ్మెట్టు / కమ్మమ్మేట్ - ఖమ్మం
Stambadri / Kambammettu / Kammammet - KHAMMAM

కాకినందివాడ / కొకనాడ - కాకినాడ
Kakinandiwada / Cocanada - KAKINADA

అమృతపురి / అమ్లిపురి / పంచలింగపురమ్ - అమలాపురం
Amrutapuri / Amlipuri / Panchalingapuram - AMALAPURAM

నవనాథపురమ్ - ఆర్మూర్
Navanathapuram - ARMOOR

లక్ష్మినారయనపురం - నారాయణఖేడ్
Lakshminarayanapuram - NARAYANKHED

భీమాపురం - భీమవరం
Bhimapuram - BHIMAVARAM

తెరావలి - తెనాలి
Teravali - TENALI

మహిసాపురం / మహిసవాడ - బాన్సువాడ
Mahisapuram / Mahisawada - BANSWADA

భానుపురి - సూర్యాపేట
Bhanupuri - SURYAPET

చికాకోల్ / గుల్శానాబాద్ - శ్రీకాకుళం
Chicacole / Gulshanabad - SRIKAKULAM

క్షీరపురి - చీరాల
Ksheerapuri - CHIRALA

సిద్దాపురం / గుల్శానాబాద్ / మెతుకుసీమ - మెదక్
Siddapuram / Gulshanabad / Methukuseema - MEDAK

కుల్పాక - కొలన్పాక్
Kulpaka - KOLANPAK

స్కంధపురి - కందుకూరు
Skandapuri - KANDUKUR

కనకపట్నం - కనిగిరి
Kanakapatnam - KANIGIRI

మర్యాదరామన్నపురం - మదనపల్లి
Maryaadaraamannapuram - MADANAPALLI

తాటిపత్రి - తాడిపత్రి
Tatipatri - TADIPATRI

ఆవులగడ్డ - ఆళ్లగడ్డ
Avulagadda - ALLAGADDA

దేవుని గడప / నెక్నామాబద్ - కడప
Devuni gadapa / Neknamabad - KADAPA

So we guess that your mind is running now around Orugallu, Bandar, Rajamahendravaram etc. Stay Tuned friends, we will be updating this with lot more places Soon.

GarudaPlus. BIGGER !

After upgrading the GarudaPlus fleet with volvo B9R buses , TSRTC has gone a step ahead and done something which we never could have imagined. What separates us from the rest TSRTC is always known to spring surprises . Shh.. what is the surprise now ? take a look at the picture below ..

Multi-axle.

Okay, have you observed it carefully ? is it a steerable rear axle . We have no answer yet !

The Hot Seat. Auto Transmission.

Okay ! observe the dash board now ! Pay attention towards the gear lever . Yes! this one has auto transmission . First time for a Garuda Plus to have that. Which bus is this then ?? feast on few more pictures before we reveal the beauty to you !

Emergency Exit Glass.

Interior.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo B11R Garudaplus Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo B11R Garudaplus Bus.

Yes ! it is the B11R , TSRTC becomes one of the first STUs to own this advanced machine. As we mentioned in our earlier post GarudaPlus again, VOLVO agreed to supply 10 buses to TSRTC . of the lot as we know already, 8 are B9Rs so the other two slots have been filled by this advanced machine. 

Keep visiting the blog for more information on these beauties !

celebrate public transport - support stu s !

drafted and edited by 

Ratnam & Revanth.

JanBus the new Metro Express

Not a Scania. Not a Volvo! The wait is over and it is the JanBus now!! Innovation from our own Ashok Leyland.

As the month of June was coming to end, Chennai had started metro services on well, a 10 km short stretch and every one in the media was going nuts adoring how awesome metro was and how it was going to change the way people move wound in the city . A question we always had an will have is how will a 10km metro line change the way people move around in a city which has spread over 20km in radius. Adding to these lame comments was one genius of an advertisement for OLX in one of the news papers. It was conveying that metros  are the answer for the rattling buses we have . But does this not prove that people out there are looking for improved level of service ? Is it not true that that is exactly was being told in the national urban transport policy and mission document for JnNURM . Be it STU s , SPV s or Municipal Transport corporations, buses in India have been moving more people than any mode of mass transit. They will continue to do so ! The ease in setting up a bus based transport system and the flexibility of such systems is unmatched. We in no way here want to say high capacity mass transit options are a bad idea . But as always it is a question of our priorities . Now how many of you know the we are going to tell you in this post ? Do you all know the VOLVO low floors , of course you all know ! the pink metro luxuries of Hyderabad , red Vajras of Bengaluru are projected as the images of improved level of service in the cities . But can the bleeding corporation really afford to have such high end buses ? Fleet augmentation is need of the hour but how do we do that ? Don't we really have affordable options in the Indian market ? When JnNURM first rolled in TATA marcopolo and Ashok Leyland's low floor buses were touted as economical substitutes but we all know how they fared ! Also the biggest complaint with low floor buses was there are steps inside the bus ! obviously the bus not completely low floor because the engine was mounted on the rear end ! This complaint had always been there in the driver - conductor circles . Many feel overwhelmed by the might of these ? So is there a mid way where we can achieve between improved level of service and keeping the operating costs practical . This time around the answer is not from Scania, Merc nor VOLVO, Ladies and gentlemen we present you an innovation from our own Ashok Leyland . We all will be guilty of cheer leading VOLVO , but this time around dunk in some awesomeness of AL !  

The JnNURM Logo and JanBus Badge.

JanBus is a bus designed by Ashok Leyland for city operations in emerging markets . this bus aims to bridge the gap between improved level of service and practical operating costs . JanBus is world's first and only front engine fully flat floor single step entry bus. So! this bus does not have any  steps inside just take one step in and walk through the flat floor ! Ashok leyland had done a really good job in churning out this bus . This also has manual-auto transmission which will make life easier for the drivers and yet not overwhelm them . This one also has cantilever seats which make cleaning the floor easier which always is a pain for the operators . But well who cares let us look at this with the same prejudice because only VOLVOs are awesome and we cannot expect anything better from Ashok Leyland . 

Coach Builder - KMS, Bangalore.

The Elevated Variant Name with JnNURM and A.P.S.R.T.C Logos.

Interiors.

And here are the Exteriors...

A.P.S.R.T.C jnnurm New Ashok Leyland METRO EXPRESS Bus.

A.P.S.R.T.C jnnurm New Ashok Leyland METRO EXPRESS Bus.

A.P.S.R.T.C jnnurm New Ashok Leyland METRO EXPRESS Bus.

A.P.S.R.T.C jnnurm New Ashok Leyland METRO EXPRESS Bus.

A.P.S.R.T.C JnNURM New Ashok Leyland METRO EXPRESS Bus.

It has been an year since the first JanBus rolled out on the streets of Kolkata and hardly any one is excited about the fact that this bus is a game changer. Andhra pradesh got its order delivered very recently but there has been a steady growth in number JanBus es on roads with more and more corporations receiving these buses . We are really hopeful people will welcome these buses with warmness and spread the joy of comfortable yet affordable city bus operations  ! 

Color Politics

APSRTC (undivided) celebrated 75 years of its formation in 2006. The Corporation then carried out a massive Re-Branding exercise across the classes of services it was offering. Of the lot , PalleVelugu was the most appreciated service as it was the first time after so many attempts at branding entry level no frill service succeeded . Corporation had earlier tried branding them new age ordinary and Gramini for sometime. The new PalleVelugu which means " light of village " was a well thought and apt name. The green and white livery signified  agrarian economy of undivided rural AndhraPradesh. 

Just when the state was getting divided (re organized) , Hyderabad had a sudden induction of BSIV buses in to the fleet. Also 3rd generation non JnNURM metros were getting re-built. The re built metros and ordinaries sported a new look with a nice graphic. This time corporation made sure there was no clutter and kept the graphics same and just changed the colors for services . Red meant Ordinary and Blue meant Express. So, when the news of new Metro Delux buses getting built came out, we were excited . We expected them to have same graphics but with a different color. The day the first bus rolled in, We were surprised ! the bus had similar graphics in green but wait, It also had streaks of Pink on it. It is not that Hyderabad never had pink  buses, the one off City Sheetal which marked the end of JnNURM one sanctions for the city and first generation middle door metros were in pink.

Surprise in Pink ! new Metro Deluxe 

Pink on buses this time had a different reason . We will not get specific about that reason. But, for readers who have very less knowledge about political parties in Telangana and AndhraPradesh, TelanganaRashtraSamiti (TRS) which is the ruling party in Telangana uses Pink the most. It's counterpart TeluguDesamParty (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh uses Yellow.   

TRS might have thought okay we have painted Deluxes in our color so what is next in line.. When the first set of Metro Luxuries arrived in town, we expeted them to have some sort of  pink even before we could get pictures. They obviously had pink on them, if you observe closely few have pale pink and few have a darker shade.At that moment I was trying hard to believe there was no pressure on the corporation to paint them in TRS s favorite color.

Death of classic PalleVelugu livery

AndhraPradesh might have thought left behind in the race, it played catch up by painting all new services in same graphics. Green and Maroon streaks on Bright yellow. Oh! this also marked the end of  brand name PalleVelugu in AndhraPradesh. The entry level service was named Telugu Velugu . This was touted as pride of Telugu speaking people in a newly re organized state . Seriously ? we thought that was their party's slogan. Any way sense prevailed later when the transport minsiter was visibly disappointed over the choice of representing the colors as it was reported. The corporation then went on a design spree and churned out quick half cooked graphics for all services. All services now had little streaks of yellow barring TeluguVelugu which had a significant amount of yellow on it.

All in Yellow

Respite in subtle expression! New Super Luxury

Both states do not seem to be stopping this spree of painting buses in their favorite colors. New Metro Express buses for small towns in AndhraPradesh and Garuda Plus for Telangana have colors of parties in power integrated in to the graphics.

 no end for our obsession - TSRTC s Garuda Plus

TDP had earlier resorted to such dirty representation when it got the corporation paint Veera buses which replaced Metro Liners in yellow. Congress , right after coming in to power made sure it got rid of the Yellows. Should the corporation be left at the mercy of whims and fancies of state to impose the aspirations of parties in power . is the corporation not autonomous.

Should the corporation stand against increasing interference of governments in its operations ? Does it have the guts to do it or will the state governments continue to rub their aspirations on the corporation. Let us wait and see what transpires over time.

Brothers

TSRTC & APSRTC - A new beginning !

It all started in 1932 when the Nizam government of Hyderabad state decided to have state operated road transport. The corporation which is now of a mammoth size connecting most of andhrapradesh and telangana had a modest beginning with 27 buses and less than 200 men at helm . When the State of Hyderabad was annexed in to union of India, The state government of Hyderabad did look for the option of incorporating the state road transport services which until then were a department in the government of Nizam State. NSR, already was operating in all districts of Telangana. The NSR was transferred to Hyderabad state which continued its services under the transport department of the state . Unfortunately it could not be incorporated, given part B states did not have the luxury of having road transport corporations then.  When the state of Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956,  Telangana already had good network of state operated road transport , thanks to NSR . It was not the same in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema though .. There were very few private operators running buses then , So the government of Andhra Pradesh had an option of either denationalizing the  services in Telangana or extend the state operated transport to other districts of the state.  A welcome decision was taken , which then proved to be one of the best decisions made by the state government . Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation was established on 11thJanuary 1958 after the transport department was incorporated, routes in coastal ap and rayalaseema were nationalized paving way for quality state operated public transport.

read this book for more information on history of the corporation ! 

APSRTC matured and grew over time winning hearts of many. when the state split on June 2 last year, Telangana and AndhraPradesh started a new journey towards prosperity. While many other corporations and government departments were bifurcated over time, APSRTC recieved much attention for delay in it s bifurcation.   

Telangana State Road Transport Corporation(T.S.R.T.C) and Andhra Pradesh state Road Transport Corporation (T.S.R.T.C)  will officially function as separate corporations from Today(03/06/15).

Earlier, several dates in May were announced for the corporation to work as two entities, but it was postponed for one reason or the other. Though Today(03/06/15) is the day the split will materialize, it is restricted to the administrative division, while assets remain  undivided between the two States.

T.S.R.T.C Official logo

T.S.R.T.C New Ashok Leyland PALLEVELUGU Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Ashok Leyland PALLEVELUGU Bus.

two states - two corporations !

TELANGANA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION &
 ANDHRA PRADESH STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION

 

Drafted and Edited by

G.S.R.Chaitanya (ratnam) & Revanth Chowdary.
LOVE of Z - Celebrating public Transport.

Garuda Plus . AGAIN !

The date Twenty nine (29) has become an auspicious one for one of the youngest STU in India. T.S.R.T.C. Followers of this Blog might have already got some clue regarding 29th. It is the day when the First Bus under JnNURM U.B.S-II had arrived to the Capital (29/07/14). It is the Date when the prestigious launch of the New Brand "METRO LUXURY" took place(29/11/14). So what is so auspicious about  29th  this time (29/05/15) ?? keep reading to know it.

Just imagine any time around 2004, did you ever even dream of  making long distance journeys with out any hassles ? Comfortable long distance journeys were never in sight then. Just when the four laning of highways reached its peak and Volvo s started to dominate the roads, A.P.S.R.T.C (undivided) too jumped in to the league with a host of Volvo s Branded as "GARUDA" buses. But, some where in the middle of race when private operators and its counterpart in Karnataka started operating Multi-axle buses it was left alone. To fill this gap and regain the lost long distance passengers, A.P.S.R.T.C joined the league of Multi-axles in 2011 with a fleet of 42 Garuda Plus buses (21 Volvo - 21 Merc) , It has been long since the fleet was upgraded with new buses . over time buses were shuffled between depots and various new routes were started .

Also it will be an year in few days since the state split in to two . So what does T.S.R.T.C have in store for passengers . while A.P.S.R.T.C has gone ahead and started trial runs of Scania , the latter has stuck to good old Volvo s . So now why are even mentioning this ?

T.S.R.T.C , sensing the increasing demand for A/C buses in long distance services has decided to augment its fleet with New VOLVO MULTI-AXLE B9Rs ! and it is again the Date of 29th when the First Bus under this augmentation reached the Capital. Yes! long after introducing the Garuda Plus buses, T.S.R.T.C received it's New Volvo 9400 Multi-axle Garuda Plus Buses on 29/05/15.

So... shall we have a look at those Newbies ?

The Official Logo of T.S.R.T.C

Symbolic representation of Garuda bird

The Elevated Name over the Graphics

The Interior Comforts are more appealing than the Exterior Looks of the Bus, so first have a look at the Interiors of the Bus.

The Interior Seating

The Hot Seat

Entertainment!!

A Spectacular view from Inside

These Days Volvo has been facing comments from critics regarding Safety measures of the Bus. Overcoming all those, the New Buses have come with Fullyloaded Safety Measures. It has got

* First-aid Kit.

* Fire Extinguishers at Front & Back.

* Emergency Exit Door with steps to get down on the rear end.

* Emergency Exit Windows & hammers beside every window.

The First-aid Kit.

The Emergency Exit Door.

* Fire Suppression System - it is a requirement of the Corporation which lead to adding of this New Feature to the Bus. Previously this Feature was only restricted to the JnNURM U.B.S-II Buses. Therefore T.S.R.T.C 's New Garudaplus Buses are now the First Ones in the Coach Segment of Volvo India to have the Fire Suppression System.

The Fire Suppression System installed in the Luggage Booth.

Functioning of this System: when heat increases or smoke comes from the Luggage booth or Engine of the Bus, this System Automatically Sprays a Chemical and Cools the Place. By this, there is less Scope for Fire accidents to Occur in this Swedish Beauty.

we cannot resist from saying, "we may get everything late, but we get the best"

Here are the Exteriors now...

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Bus.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Buses.

T.S.R.T.C New Volvo 9400 GARUDAPLUS Buses.

Now it has been worth Notable that T.S.R.T.C had Ordered this Model weeks after the New Faced B9R had took birth from the Volvo & it is done so giving due respect to it's past experiences with this Model & New Safety Features installed as per the requirements of the Corporation. By this act, it cannot be assumed that the corporation is making time with the yet Existing Models. T.S.R.T.C gonna take much more initiatives in the upcoming days.

Stay Tuned with this Blog to know more about them..!!

Drafted and Edited by

G.S.R.Chaitanya (ratnam) & Revanth Chowdary.
LOVE of Z - Celebrating public Transport.

Thank You All

We abuse them from stopping in middle of the roads, we abuse them for not switching on the indicators. Oh Wait ! there are no indicators . Screw the maintenance staff right ? What is that crude paint job, we cannot even build proper buses. The conductors won't give change and are always lethargic.Our complaints don't stop here.

But, do we know what the conditions are that they work in ? It is better understood if we start examining what happens when a bus refuses to start in heavy traffic on a Monday evening.

It is Monday evening, heavy traffic and a shitty marcopolo refuses to move in the traffic . Angry people around the bus keep honking as the driver who is probably working over time (thanks to screwed up traffic or skewed schedule of the bus) tries to find some faith in humanity, asking some one to push the bus before the traffic personnel get crazy ideas of towing away the bus. Mean while the conductor scrambles around to make alternate arrangements to the passengers. Then after some frantic calls, driver communicates the problem to depot which sends out a mechanic who is obviously ill equipped. While you expect him to be dressed as a professional mechanic, poor guy wont even have gloves.

The scene is not different at body building unit,depots and zonal workshops. Everyday, the staff of our corporations are grappling with absence of infrastructure and tools to carry out job. There has been very little or zero investment in improving the working conditions for the staff while we question the facilities at bus terminals.

Today, we would want to thank all those drivers, conductors, assistants, mechanics and all other staff of our corporations for helping us keep moving despite all the odds.
ప్రగతి రథ చక్రాలు ఎల్లపుడు కదులుతూ, 
ప్రజల జీవితాలలో వెలుగులు నింపుతూ ఉండటానికి సహకరిస్తున్న ప్రతి ఒక్క కర్మీకుడికి శతకోటి నమస్కారాలు .

Take time out from your busy schedule, thank the crew of the buses who make your journeys happen.
We are sure the moment you thank them-that smile, though for a moment will make a difference.

SCANIA Mania

We tried Cerita,Isuzu,TATA Hispano,AL Luxura, Mercedes-Benz and now finally a SCANIA Metro Link HD 14.5 Meters has been taken on trial for 2 months. Initially, the bus will run between KPHB Colony (Hyderabad) and Vijayawada.

The Swedish Manufacturer of coaches has entered the Indian market a bit late, but it is better late than never right! After the four laning of highways and the increased presence of volvo , long distance road journeys have become common now. 

The 14.5 meter long,2.6 meter wide and 3.7 meter high bus has a 13 liter,410 HP engine with opticruse automatic transmission from SCANIA with a steerable tag axle. This bus has EBS and ABS for safety and can seat 53 passengers on seats with calf support by Harita.

Given the positive response from other operators which are using this bus ,Hope APSRTC successfully goes past the trial stage to induct these in to their fleet and give tough competition to private operators.

A.P.S.R.T.C Scania Metrolink Garudaplus Bus.

 

SCANIA Metro Link HD doing KPHB-Vijayawada zippng past moosarambagh

inputs from 

KRISHNA