RTC uses scrapped buses as bio-toilets

HYDERABAD: In a first, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has turned scrapped buses lying at bus depots into bio-toilets. This meets the long-pending demand of RTC employees for proper toilet facilities at changeover points and after completion of shift.

The bio-toilets were officially inaugurated on Friday by transport minister Ajay Puvvada at Hakimpet depot.

Buses that have run more than 15 lakh kilometres and are deemed unfit for public transport are being turned into bio-toilets at the RTC workshop in Miyapur depot. TSRTC officials said in the next one month, 32 such bio-toilets will be made available in the state

To start with, nine bio-toilet buses will start functioning at change-over locations near Kondapur, Suchitra, LB  Nagar, Mehdipatnam, and Chilkalguda. Each bus has two toilets, wash basin and a relaxing area with seating arrangements.

“We had to wait for hours to relieve ourselves after eight to nine hours of our shift. It was a major problem for pregnant women and those menstruating. At many depots, there were no separate toilets for women. Most of them were also really dirty. We are relieved a bit because of these bio-toilets. Hope more such facilities are available for employees,” said a woman conductor of the Hakimpet depot.

The TSRTC also launched its parcel and cargo services on Friday for increasing the revenues of the corporation. 822 such services will be launched on different routes in the state over a period of time.

RTC women staff pick maroon dress

TS Transport Corporation women employees have picked maroon as the colour for their new uniform on Friday.

Representatives of the women employees were given the option to choose from a dozen shades by TSRTC managing director Sunil Sharma. Ms O. Sudha, assistant manager at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, said, “We are very happy that our demands are being fulfilled one after the other. We are glad that we were given the right to choose the colour we want. Among the colours given to us, there was one shade of maroon which grabbed all of our attention, so we chose it.”

Women employees said that they are looking forward to the change. The uniform for male employees would continue to be khaki.