(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A whopping 1.8 million of the estimated 3.2 million people from Andhra Pradesh residing in Hyderabad, accounting for more than half, have reportedly left the city in the past few days to celebrate the first Sankranti festival after the bifurcation of the state in their home towns on Thursday.
Trains, flights, buses and taxis bound for coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are going choc-a-block with people opting for any kind of transport to take them back to their native place to celebrate the festival, a major event in the Telugu calendar.
Expectedly, the fares have gone through the roof with private operators raking in the moolah taking advantage of the situation, charging more than double the normal in most routes.
For instance, a ticket to Visakhapatnam which normally costs Rs900 in an air-conditioned bus now costs Rs 2000.
A Vijayawada bus ticket will burn a major hole in the commuters' pocket with operators charging as much as Rs2000 as against the normal Rs550.
The same is the case for other major cities and tows in AP. "It is actually more of a festival time for private operators who thrive on such occasions than the people," says Mahesh, an irate commuter travelling to Vijayawada, echoing the sentiments of fellow passengers. The South Central Railway (SCR) had announced special trains expecting the festival rush ahead of the season, and the tickets were gone in no time. The festival specials were packed beyond capacity and not even an inch of space was available in the general compartment, where prior reservation is not required. Meanwhile, the government-owned Road Transport Corporation ran some 5,560 special buses charging 50 per cent extra fare on these routes. The corporation's explanation? "All the 5,560 special buses are meant only to clear the Sankranti festival rush. They will have to return empty from the destinations and the loss will have to be borne by the RTC. The 50 per cent extra charges are only on special buses," an RTC official explained.
The festival this year, according to many observers, is significant in more ways than one. While most of the Hyderabadi residents from Andhra Pradesh have made a beeline to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones, there is talk that many Andhraities are utilizing the opportunity to take stock of the situation arising out of division of the state.
With AP set to establish a new capital city in and around Vijayawada, many are exploring avenues to either sell their ancestral properties to make a fast buck in the prevailing bullish sentiment or acquire new properties as investment that could turn out to be a fortune in a possible real estate boom in the future. This air of speculation is being particularly felt in cities and towns like Vijayawada, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Nellore.
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