Striking a fine balance between reforms and welfare, the A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is treading cautiously to wriggle out of financial crisis.
In addition to the series of passenger-friendly initiatives that have changed the face of its main bus stand Pandit Nehru Bus Station, the officials now plan to add 2,700 new buses to its fleet. This will cost the RTC around Rs.625 crore.
Of the total 2,700 buses, 1,500 will be Express and Deluxe buses, 750 Super Luxury, 450 buses will be operated exclusively in Tirumala Ghat roads and 80 Indra buses.
In addition to a sum of Rs.325 crore incurred towards purchase of buses, the Corporation would need additional Rs.300 crore for body-building of these vehicles which takes the total expenditure to Rs.625 crore. To finance the purchase, the RTC has opted for a loan of Rs.300 crore from HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation). “We’ll also make use of the Rs.100 crore the Centre allocates us for purchase of vehicles. The remaining amount we’ll have to mobilise from some other sources,” APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director N. Sambasiva Rao told The Hindu .
Bio-diesel fuel
Impressed by the manner in which Karnataka Transport Corporation had switched over to use of 100 per cent eco-friendly bio-diesel fuel, the APSRTC has decided to follow suit.
“Of the total 126 bus depots across Andhra Pradesh, 88 depots have bio-diesel tank facility and 25 of them are already using the alternative fuel,” said Mr. Sambasiva Rao, adding: “A complete switchover to bio-diesel will not be a problem.” Keeping in view welfare of its work force, the RTC is planning to introduce an accident insurance policy. Under the scheme, in the event of any RTC employee or worker meeting with a casualty, the insurance company will pay a sum of Rs.5 lakh. “We don’t intend to charge anything from the workers, it’s a welfare measure. But unions are insisting that the insured money be raised to Rs.10 lakh. We need to look into the modalities first,” said Mr. Rao.
The Corporation is also toying with the idea of introducing a major group insurance scheme for general public.
