The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) city unit staged a sit-in protest in front of Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) here on Tuesday demanding rollback of the hike in APSRTC fares.
CPI (M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said that the hike in charges amounted to a burden of Rs. 600 crore on people in the State while it was a burden of Rs. 36 crore in Krishna region.
There was no iota of truth in RTC authorities’ claim that the fares were revised only to save the RTC. In fact, the RTC was stuck in neck deep financial quagmire due to wrong policies of the government. The frequent hike in diesel and petrol prices was a burden on the RTC. The charges could be slashed if the diesel prices were controlled, he felt.
The RTC hiked the city service by Re. 1 and bus passes by Rs. 50. It was a burden on the commoner, who was already facing hardship due to skyrocketing of prices of essential commodities. The government should come to the rescue of the RTC if it were in losses, but, not burden the commoner, he said, adding, the government would face the ire of public if necessary steps were not taken in this regard.
CPI(M) city secretariat member D. Kasinath, U V Ramaraju, Madala Venkateswara Rao, city committee members B. Nageswara Rao, G. Nataraju, B.Satyababu and former corporator Korada Rammohan Rao and others were present.
