Intranet in APSRTC buses from next week

In order to attract more passengers and bailout the Andhra Pradesh Road and Transport Corporation (APSRTC) corporation from debts, the corporation will provide more facilities on its buses. Intranet services, disposal seats covers, air fresheners and wet napkins are among the few services the corporation wants to introduce in its fleet of AC buses.

• Move to tide over debts: APSRTC MD

• Passengers can choose from a host of Telugu and Hindi movies

• Advertisements on seat covers

• Plan to introduce 5G services in Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada

The RTC is planning to provide these services from the second week of April on a pilot basis for a month. Sharing the corporation’s new schemes with the City Tab, APSRTC managing director N Sambasiva Rao said that intranet services would be provided to passengers in all AC buses such as Indra, Garuda, Vennela and Garuda Plus. He however denied that the APSTRC would introduce WiFi facility on its fleet.

“Unlike the routine practice of playing a single movie for all passengers on a bus, they can now watch movies or songs of their choice on their personal computers, tabs and smartphones. For these facilities, customers need not to pay for the first one hour. Rs 10 would be charged for those who want to avail the service after one hour,” explained Sambasiva Rao.

To provide this facility, the RTC has tied up with a private service which will maintain a database of Telugu and Hindi movies and songs. Instead of spending amount on these schemes, the corporation is planning to generate revenue by printing advertisements on seat covers.“The seat covers of the buses will be changed every day. About four to five senior officials of the corporation are working on the aspect. There is a possibility of generating foul smell since the AC buses are enclosed.

To avoid this, the corporation has decided to arrange for air fresheners which are used in aircrafts. Disposal wet napkins will also be provided while the passengers are getting down from the bus,” he said.“Though some these services were introduced in RTC buses eight years ago, it wasn’t popular due to various reasons,” Sambasiva Rao said and added that they would think about the introduction of these services in all 12,000 odd bus services if they get a good response.

Impossible though it may sound, the authorities are mulling over the introduction of 5G services at the Vijayawada Bus Station in a month or two. Talking about the division of the corporation between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, he said there were two things one is division of employees and another is division of assets. As far as the division of employees concern, it would be completed in the coming ten days period. Division of assets would take more time, he informed.

“Talking about the government plans to hike the bus fares, the MD made it clear that there was a need to hike price of some services to bailout the corporation from debts. They would also request the government to enhance charges,” he said.Expressing concern for not implementing fitment for employees during the last two years, the MD informed that talks are on to enhance the salaries of employees.

By Raghu Paithari