Bus fare hike looks imminent in Telangana

Hyderabad: A hike in the RTC bus fares appears imminent, with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao suggesting to the RTC management that any fare hike should be done gradually to ensure that people are not burdened. The Chief Minister also suggested that the possibility of bringing transport and tourism sectors under TSRTC control can be examined seriously so that commercial goods transportation, courier service and tourist operations through RTC buses can be planned properly to significantly raise the revenues of the Corporation.

Speaking at a review meeting with top RTC officials, including depot managers, the Chief Minister said bus fares were hiked unscientifically all these years. The practice has been that the ticket fares used to be increased once every four or five years.  As a result, the burden of hike was more on people and its impact used to be adverse.

“The TSRTC does not have monopoly on the transport sector. Its management and employees should learn to survive in the competitive market instead of blaming illegal operations of private buses, autos and jeeps as the reasons for the corporation running in losses,” Mr Rao said.

“It is my responsibility to strengthen public sector undertakings. My objective is to strengthen the RTC on the lines of power utilities. Officers and employees should work as a family and cooperate with the government to strengthen the RTC,” he said. “Use technology to increase passenger satisfaction. Take their feedback. Give quality food in canteens. Make arrangements for passengers to take rest at night at bus stands. RTC has Rs 2,000 crore of debts and is incurring Rs 700 crore losses per annum. Government will help to some extent. Officers, employees and Union leaders along with their members should work as a family along with the Government to strengthen RTC,” Mr Rao said. “When we could achieve statehood, which people said was an impossible task, putting RTC back on track should not be impossible,” he said.