New-look Pushpak to hit the street

New-look Pushpak to hit the street
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Highlights

To increase the patronage of airport bound passengers, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has decided to change the fleet of airport shuttle services named Pushpak with new ones.The occupancy ratio has been a problem for these buses since its inception and because of different measures like changing the timing based on the flight arrivals and having halts has resulted in reac

To increase the patronage of airport bound passengers, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has decided to change the fleet of airport shuttle services named Pushpak with new ones.

The occupancy ratio has been a problem for these buses since its inception and because of different measures like changing the timing based on the flight arrivals and having halts has resulted in reaching breakeven.

The corporation started the Sheetal Hamsa buses with an aim to provide commutation to the airport bound passengers in 2008.

Later, the name of the service was changed to Pushpak. According to sources, earlier, the airport authorities had bus services but they closed down after finding that these buses were making losses.

Corporation operated these buses to the airport from across various destinations of city with the collaboration with TVS. But unable to bear the losses, TVS withdrew from the service.

The corporation brought these buses with the financial assistance from the Centre, which contributed 40 per cent of the cost (under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission).

The Corporation had to shell out additional 30 per cent of the cost as the state government didn’t agree to share the burden of 30 per cent of the cost, sources said.

Sources said that the occupancy ratio in the 45-seater buses was 45 per cent, which is equal to attaining breakeven. Now, to attract the passengers, the corporation is contemplating to change the fleet with new ones.

“The JNNURM buses are not up to the standards of the corporation and the life of the buses is also less compared to the RTCs regular fleet,” said a senior official.

He informed that they have taken measures like reducing the frequency of the services from 15 minutes to 20 minutes in the non-peak hours (afternoon), decreasing fares etc.

RTC MD G V Ramana Rao told The Hans India that these buses have tough competition from cabs. “We are planning to change the fleet with new ones with luggage provision for the passengers.

There is a plan to use mini buses, which are going to be launched in January for the airport services,” said Ramana Rao.

He said that there is no tax on these buses as they have been procured through JNNURM.

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