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RTC to allow booking on phone for seats in Vajra buses
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), which has been struggling hard to make the Vajra mini-bus service a success, has now decided experiment with booking on phone and have rationalistic approach like running the buses wherever there is a demand.
Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), which has been struggling hard to make the Vajra mini-bus service a success, has now decided experiment with booking on phone and have rationalistic approach like running the buses wherever there is a demand.
The corporation is contemplating to run some services on Karimnagar and Godavarikhani route. The occupancy ratio had been an issue in the 22-seater Vajra mini buses. The TSRTC had introduced the mini A/c buses in the routes of Hyderabad-Nizamabad and Hyderabad-Warangal; but could not find many takers though it had allowed the buses to pick up passengers from colonies in Hyderabad.
A senior official in the corporation said that the Vajra bus services were reviewed recently and it was found that not many passengers use the mobile application and this was the reason why the buses did not get patronage. The officials decided to follow rationality in the services and hence withdrew the services in some routes where there was no demand and extended the services where there was potential demand.
Talking to The Hans India, the RTC Chairman Somarapu Satyanarayana said that these buses were brought on the advice of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. The bus services were introduced with the aim of helping commuters to travel to their destinations directly. They need not come to the bus station with luggage.
An app was developed for booking, he said.The Chairman said that with many people unaware of the app facility, the occupancy ratio was very low. Now passengers can board the bus at any point. We decided to relax the rules like allowing the passengers to board the bus at any point.
Commuters can also call RTC inquiry numbers to book seats so that the bus can arrive at their place (dedicated stops). “We are trying to see how best we can serve the people on this new service,” said Satyanarayana.
The corporation has also affected reduction of price after the launch of GST. The new tax rate now is 5 per cent. Earlier the tax was 6 per cent but after implementation of GST, the prices have been reduced by Rs 3, he said. I is hoped that the occupancy ratio would increase from 30 to 50 per cent, he added.
Apart from these measures, about ten buses would be operated in Karimnagar and Godavarikhani, where the traffic would be high.
By K Chandrashekar
