Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has taken a major step to ensure passenger safety by banning bus drivers from using mobile phones during duty hours. The new regulation comes into effect from September 1 as a pilot project across 11 selected depots, including Farooqnagar and Kukatpally in the Greater Hyderabad Zone. Officials stated that the decision was taken after vigilance checks revealed several drivers were using phones while driving, posing a serious threat to commuter safety.
As part of the new system, drivers must deposit their mobile phones in designated lockers at depots before starting their shifts and will be allowed to retrieve them only after completing duty. In case of emergencies, family members or officials can reach out to the bus conductor, who will then pass on the information to the driver. This arrangement, TGSRTC clarified, ensures that urgent communication can still take place without distracting drivers on the road.
TGSRTC has selected one depot each from its 11 regions for the pilot project, including Kollapur, Sangareddy, Miryalaguda, Vikarabad, Utnoor, Jagtial, Khammam, Kamareddy, and Parakala. Depending on the results, the corporation plans to gradually extend the initiative to all 97 depots across the state. Officials stressed that the move will particularly help reduce road accidents and boost public confidence in RTC’s passenger safety measures.