Andhra Pradesh RTC suffers Rs 4000 cr loss due to COVID

VIJAYAWADA: Among the worst hit by Covid-19, APSRTC has incurred over Rs 4,000 crore revenue loss because of the pandemic. Today, there is a semblance of a return to near-normalcy because of the marriage season.

In normal circumstances, the RTC would ply buses stretching to 150 crore kilometres every year. The pandemic and lockdown has brought down the distance by exactly half. And there are no night services.

According to reports, the corporation suffered a loss of Rs 2,800 crore up to March this year while from April to August, the revenue loss is estimated to be around Rs 1,300 crore. In view of various factors, and restricted services, it could generate only Rs 2,200 crore with a revenue deficit of Rs 2,800 crore.

In the current year from April, it could generate Rs 900 crore revenue as against the projected Rs 2,200 crore. From one that would ply 10,600 buses everyday, it now operates only 8,000 services.

The auspicious mahurats till September 1 have come in handy for the state-run carrier as has been the case with people’s preference for open window vehicles like buses.

Commuters K. Poorna and J. Ramu said that ventilation is better in RTC buses compared to auto-rickshaws and cabs. This is the reason many people are opting to travel by RTC buses, they reasoned.

Executive Director (Operations) K. S. Brahmananda Reddy said that the monthly revenue generation was around Rs 450 crore with a daily average of Rs 14 crore. Now it is around Rs 10 crore, he said. Reddy pointed out that things could be back on track once they get the nod to resume night services.