District RTC in 45-cr loss in FY 2015-16

Nalgonda: The district Road Transport Corporation seems to be in deep financial crisis. According to official information, the district RTC has faced a loss of Rs 45 crore during the financial year 2015-16 from the 735 buses it runs from seven depots located across the district. Simply put, the corporation is bearing a loss of Rs 4.4 per kilometre per bus on an average.

Suryapet is the one of the most important bus depots in the district as it is located exactly at centre point between the two states capitals Hyderabad and Vijayawada The district RTC constructed 42 bus stations across the district for the convenience of passengers. Of them, only Suryapet high-tech bus stand is designated as ‘major’ bus stand.

Whereas Miryalaguda, Kodad and Nalgonda bus stands are identified as A- category bus stands. Also Deverakonda, Yadagirigutta, Choutuppal, Narketpally, Bhongir, Old Suryapet and Mall bus stands are recognised as B-Category and remaining bus stands in the district are considered C-Category in commercial point of view.

The RTC is having 329 stalls in its open places across the district from which revenue of Rs 4.75 crore is being generated per annum. About 13 bus stands in the district are ‘not in use’ by the public as they were constructed on the outskirts of the respective mandal headquarters. RTC trade union leaders said that the present average occupancy ratio of the district RTC was 70 per cent.

They have been requesting the government to extend its cooperation to help the organisation come out from losses that are increasing every year. The trade union leaders are demanding Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to allow hike in ticket fares in order to achieve break-even point and also put control on private buses since they were hampering RTC revenue.