Hyderabad: Hours before the decision of the Telangana state government to levy entry tax on vehicles came into effect, private bus operators pulled 80 per cent of its 1,000-odd fleet from the roads on Tuesday in protest, leaving passengers stranded.

Citizens who had already booked their tickets in advance received messages that their tickets were being cancelled.

Counters of current ticket booking were closed as private bus operators said they would approach the court. The few buses that plied after midnight reportedly charged 100 per cent more from passengers coming from AP to TS.

Interestingly, the TS government’s decision is all set to start a chain reaction of price rise of essential commodities and other products in TS.

Dealers, wholesale agents and traders will pass on the additional tax burden on the people. Prices of vegetables, fruits, milk, cement, steel, and other construction material are expected to go up in the state.

In case of bus ticket fares, the burden would be more on people coming from AP.

The AP government has not taken a decision on levying entry tax on vehicles coming from TS into AP yet.