The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Bus operators make a killing

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Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Bus operators make a killing

Hyderabad: The current holiday season is the best time for the private bus operators as also the APSRTC to make extra bucks. With the beginning of holidays from Tuesday, all buses whether it is private or government run, it is jam-packed and those opting for the special buses are now forced to shell out extra money. The RTC is operating some 2,249 special buses till Friday, is charging 50 per cent extra, the private operators have simply doubled the charges. While the normal RTC fare for Vijayawada from Hyderabad (285 km) in a hi-tech bus is Rs. 157, it is now pegged at Rs. 235.

The private operators who used to take Rs. 215 (for hi-tech bus) for Vijayawada arenow collecting Rs. 350 for the private air-conditioned buses the charge is hovering around Rs. 600. With no control over the fares to be charged in private buses, the operators could even hike the fares further depending on the rush on Tuesday and Wednesday. “The RTC itself is encouraging the private operators to charge more, as it has hiked the fares of special buses,” fumes P. Koteswara Rao, a native of Vizag. He had to pay Rs. 1,050 for a one-way trip to his hometown in a private bus operated by Sri Lakshmi Travels in Lakdi-ka-pul.

The RTC officials justify the fare hike arguing that operation of special buses require extra manpower and other services. The buses would return almost empty and these extra charges are meant to cover up the operational costs, reasons P. Ravindra Babu, the RM of Ranga Reddy region.

The private operators have different justification for the hike. The road tax was hiked from Rs. 2,670 to Rs. 3,675 per seat per quarter. “Also we have to take care of police challans for starting the services before the stipulated time of 10 p.m.”, points out Prakash Rao of Krishnaveni Travels. In addition , we need to pay double allowances for drivers for special trips, he explains.

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Andhra Pradesh