Visakhapatnam: Passengers travelling between Palasa and Ichchapuram are angry as Palasa RTC depot has cancelled five bus services to Ichchapuram.
The depot used to run 11 buses from Palasa to Ichchapuram and Visakhapatnam. Of these, Palasa depot had stopped three bus services earlier. With stoppage of another five services, there are now only three bus services available to people.
All these 11 buses are RTC-owned. Yet, as many as eight of them have been stopped due to lack of feasibility.
"The bus services had been stopped a month ago. When we asked Palasa depot manager about cancellation of these services, he said they had been withdrawn as per orders of Srikakulam RTC authorities. As a result, passengers of Ichchapuram, Kaviti, Kanchili, Sompeta, Palasa Mandasa and Vajrapukottur mandal are facing difficulties in commuting," a traveller Dasarathi stated.
Trade union leaders say all the 11 bus services had been giving good revenue. Yet, the RTC has stopped eight services. Due to this, jobs of 52 RTC drivers and conductors are under threat.
Protesting against this, RTC Staff Workers Federation leaders have demanded restoration of all bus services from Palasa to Ichchapuram. They also conducted a gate meeting in front of the Palasa bus depot.
Staff Workers Federation Vizianagaram zonal president V. Ramulu said, "RTC earned Rs.2.50 lakh income every day due to these 11 bus services. The decision to withdraw services has led to lakhs of loss in the past few months."
In this regard, Staff Workers Federation leaders have met area minister Appalaraju, seeking restoration of the bus services.
When contacted by Deccan Chronicle, Palasa RTC depot manager R.S. Naidu said, “Yes, we have stopped eight bus services as they are causing an economic burden. Our service from Palasa to Ichchapuram and Vizag involves 482 kilometres. We earn Rs.16,000 to Rs.17,000 per day on the service. We have cancelled eight services and are running them on the Palasa-Visakhapatnam route. The distance travelled is 370 kilometres and we earn Rs.20,000 per day. Keeping this in mind, we have no intention of resuming the cancelled bus services.”
