Police to provide escort to private buses

HYDERABAD: With private bus operators still facing difficulties in running their services as pro-Telangana activists are obstructing buses and throwing stones, the Andhra Pradesh State Private Bus Owners Association has decided to run services from Hyderabad to Rayalaseema and Andhra regions with police assistance during the festival season. “We sought police assistance to run our services smoothly. Even as a few ‘organised groups’ are targeting our buses by throwing stones, we have decided to operate all our services from Hyderabad to other regions. Due to the festival season, there is huge demand from passengers travelling for festival holidays. We will operate our services with police escort,’’ said H Subash Chandra Bose, president, AP State Private Travel Owners Association.After the state-run APSRTC halted its services temporarily due to the general strike, private travel agencies brought hundreds of buses into service from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Rajahmundry, Narsapur, Tanuku, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Tirupati, Ananthapuram, Kadapa, Kurnool and other parts of Rayalaseema and Andhra. “We will not hesitate to ply buses. Passengers know of the current situation and how difficult it is to operate services,’’ Subash Chandra Bose added.Police have deployed 10 police convoys for buses on NH-9 and routes leading to Rayalaseema. SA Huda, additional DGP (Law and Order) said, “Four to six police convoys will accompany at least ten buses providing security till they cross the borders. Nalgonda police and other bordering places have been asked to provide special convoys to protect them from stone pelting.”