Housing scheme for RTC employees on the cards

 Tirupati: Though APSRTC was left with Rs.5,500 crore loses at the time of bifurcation of the state, with the foresightedness and experience of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu it has now  managed to reduce the loses to Rs 3,500 crore, said transport minister K Atchannaidu. He inaugurated 35 environment-friendly BS-IV standard buses to Tirumala at Alipiri bus station here on Tuesday. 

Speaking on the occasion, Atchannaidu said APSRTC has been taking several measures for the welfare of the workers and recalled the recent announcement of 19 per cent interim relief to them. By the time of bifurcation, the occupancy ratio (OR) of RTC buses was only 55 per cent which has now gone up to 72 per cent thereby helping the corporation to cut loses. 

Through parcel services, RTC has been earning Rs 60-70 crore per month and the Chief Minister has liberally allocated Rs 200 crore for the purchase of Palle Velugu buses, he said. The Minister revealed that RTC management has been contemplating a housing scheme for all transport workers and asked district collector to allot land in Madanapalle from where they want to start the new scheme.

Minister for industries N Amaranatha Reddy said that APSRTC has been striving to serve the poor without looking for profits though it was in losses. “RTC is a public property and not private property and people should encourage the corporation by travelling in RTC buses for safe journey, which will help to recover from losses,” he said.

The minister said that those who are below 18 years of age should not drive auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers and if awareness is created towards this many accidents can be averted.

APSRTC chairman Varla Ramaiah revealed that they had decided to replace existing ‘Sapthagiri Bus services’ in Chittoor region with 166 new buses and in the first batch 35 buses were inaugurated. 

They would ply from various depots in the region to Tirumala and the remaining buses also would come before the forthcoming Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara. 

He said the Chief Minister had accepted the proposal to run new buses to Tirumala for the safe and secure journey of pilgrims. ZP chairperson S Geervani, RTC zonal chairman R V Subash Chandra Bose, MLC Dorababu, Tirupati MLA M Suguna, TUDA chairman G Narasimha Yadav, RTC regional manager T Chengal Reddy, executive director G Maheswara and others also participated in the programme.