P. Sai Kalyani, a degree student from Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram district, travels to Visakhapatnam, in an APSRTC route bus, every day to attend her college at MVP Colony. On Friday morning, she reached the bus stop at the usual time of 7.15 a.m., but to her dismay, the regular bus No. 541, in which she travels, was found missing. After a long wait for almost 45 minutes, she had to board another bus to reach the APRTC complex, in Visakhapatnam.

The bus was completely packed. A few women had to physically fight for a seat. People were seen hanging on the footboard. Moreover, from the RTC Complex in Vizag, I didnt get any bus, so had to board an auto-rickshaw. I was almost an hour late to college and I am frightened about my return journey, Ms Sai Kalyani said.

Like Kalyani, it was a very hard for many APSRTC bus commuters on Friday, as almost 30% of total buses were diverted for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidus Pasupu Kumkuma programme, to bring party representatives and women to the venue, AU Engineering College Grounds at Maddilapalem.

Of 1,190 city buses which ply in Visakhapatnam, almost 350 were diverted to various areas in and around the city for ferrying women to the programme. Apart from Vizag city buses, almost 700 more city buses from neighbouring districts were deputed to bring party supporters to the venue from different places from the three coastal districts.

Due to shortage of buses, college going students, private employees, working women had to face an ordeal.

Many passengers were irked with late running and lack of buses to their destinations.

A few frustrated parents were seen returning with their children from bus stops. Several tourists too faced issues with late running of buses, due to adequate number.

This is not good from the officials to divert city buses every time, when CM conducts some programme in the city,said R Krishna Murthy, a private employee from Murali Nagar area.

When contacted, Regional Manager APSRTC Visakhapatnam district G. Sudesh Kumar, said that even though they had to divert 350 city buses, they had facilitated passengers by allowing bus passes in metro buses also.

Meanwhile auto-rickshaw drivers had made quick bucks by carrying more passengers. Auto-rickshaws ran in good number in Maddilapalem to Anandapuram stretch, which has more number of engineering colleges.