A third AC bus service to Bangalore is being planned by the Visakhapatnam region of APS RTC on Sundays.
Buoyed by the success of the special Indra AC service for the recent KCET exam, the RTC authorities are toying with the idea of launching an additional service to Bangalore, according to Regional Manager Y. Jagadeesh Babu.
The RTC is already operating two Garuda services to Bangalore in view of the high demand.
Youths from the region employed in the software industry and their parents visiting them are finding it extremely difficult to get accommodation on trains.
The fare of the Indra AC service at Rs.1.20 paise a km is less than Garuda AC service by 20 paise for every km and this will make a huge difference in the fare.
“The fare on AC city buses has been reduced from Rs.1.50 paise a km to Rs.1.20 paise a km and we are optimistic that they will be patronised by more passengers. The low-floor JNNURM buses are drawing good response from passengers and we have placed a requisition for procuring 50 new low-floor buses,” Mr. Jagadeesh Babu said.
Counter at airport
“The authorities have provided a room to the RTC at the airport. A bus shelter is being constructed at the airport and the alighting point for bus passengers would be close to the terminal building. This would encourage more air passengers to utilise RTC services to reach the airport from various parts of the city besides long distance services.”
“There are around 300 employees of various airlines and the Airport Authority of India (AAI), working at the airport, and a bus pass counter would be opened at the airport for their convenience. Reservation on long distance Volvo buses can also be done at the airport counter,” the Regional Manager said.
New routes
“We have identified new routes with the objective of providing connectivity from different corners of the city to the passenger hubs of Dwaraka Bus Station (RTC Complex), Railway Station, Maddilapalem, Simhachalam, Old Gajuwaka and Kailasagiri. We have also introduced eight high frequency buses on the Pendurthi–RK Beach via Simhachalam and Hanumanthawaka on the BRTS corridor,” says Deputy Chief Traffic Manager (Urban) A. Veeraiah Chowdary.
The frequency of 38Y RTC Complex–Duvvada Railway Station has been increased. “We have 38 scheduled trips in addition to extra buses during the arrival of important trains at Duvvada,” he added.
