With nearly 150 buses from its fleet confined to the depot from late Saturday evening, the Vijayawada region of AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is hoping to make up for the loss of revenue to the tune of Rs. 10 lakhs per day, in the days to come.
Buses plying towards Hyderabad and beyond and neighbouring districts like Nalgonda and Khammam had to be pulled back in response to the 48-hour bandh call given by the activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
“As a preventive measure to save the buses from destruction, we have decided not to ply them until Monday evening when the bandh gets over,” said A. Koteswara Rao, Regional Manager of the RTC, on Sunday.
Five buses, including two Volvo vehicles, from the fleet of the RTC, Vijayawada region, bore the brunt of the TRS activists three days back and the authorities concerned are in no mood to invite any more risk on this count.
“We have returned the money paid by the customers towards advance booking of buses that could not be operated,” said Mr. Rao.
Expressing serious concern over the disruptions in bus operation in the last few days on account of the destruction-spree resorted to by the TRS activists, Mr. Rao said the RTC officials also faced problems in keeping the buses in secured places.
“Usually, the buses are stationed at pick-up points which are closer to the travellers. But since the buses are being attacked, we have put them in depots,” he said.
Hinting at an overall revenue loss of Rs. 30 lakhs due to the non-operating buses, Mr. Rao said the corporation would try and makeup for the loss during the ‘sudden unmanageable crowd’ that is expected to throng bus stations after the bandh period.
Special package
The RTC is also planning to come up with a special package of Vaishnav Darsini in Dhanurmasam that commences from December 17.
