Discrepancy in Maha Lakshmi Scheme Communications: TSRTC MD Sajjannar Clarifies

HYDERABAD: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation vice-chairman and managing director V.C. Sajjannar said the news report ‘Sajjanar creates confusion’ carried in these columns on Friday was misleading.

In a rejoinder, Sajjanar said that he had explained about the scheme in detail but the report had the potential to create confusion among public about the prestigious Maha Lakshmi scheme that allows female passengers of all ages travel free of cost in RTC buses. The scheme was significant as lakhs of women across the state make use of it, he added.

Our correspondent replies:

We stand by our report that there was a discrepancy in two official communications, one in the form of a government order (GO) issued by transport principal secretary A. Vani Prasad and a press release released by Sajjannar, that led to the confusion. The GO had no mention of city bus services while giving the list of services under the Maha Lakshmi scheme. Sajjannar acknowledged the discrepancy, and described it as a clerical mistake and even informed this newspaper that the error was being rectified.