The launch of 17 new AC city buses by Transport Minister S. Raghava Rao and HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao at the newly opened Madhurawada RTC Depot on Tuesday came as a cool relief to commuters.
Seven buses each will be operated between Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram and between Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle, and three would be operated as non-stop service from Visakhapatnam to Srikakulam.
The low-floor Volvo buses (Euro IV), christened ‘Metro Luxury’, requisitioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), promise a comfortable ride.
RTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director N. Sambasiva Rao called upon the public to patronise RTC, and said that the corporation was according top priority to ensuring punctuality of buses, maintenance of cleanliness of buses and bus stations, and provision of basic amenities.
Bus complex
Responding to a request for a bus station complex at Madhurawada, Mr. Raghava Rao said that construction on the facility would be taken up soon.
Reacting to a suggestion of MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, he promised to strive for improvement of basic amenities, including well maintained toilets, at all bus stations and depots in all districts.
“Madhurawada will be developed on the lines of Madhapur and Gachibowli in the next two to three years. The Chief Minister would lay the foundation for construction of the Signature Tower on the hill located on the opposite side this month. A 10,000-capacity Convention Centre, leisure parks, and entertainment facilities will also be developed at Madhurawada,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.
ZP Chairperson Lalam Bhavani and MLAs Palla Srinivasa Rao, Vangalapudi Anita, and Panchakarla Ramesh Babu were among those who were present.
Of 17 buses, seven each will be operated between Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle, and three as non-stop service from Visakhapatnam to Srikakulam
