Kesineni Nani quits transport business

MP upset over accusations against private travels

Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) taking a look at the buses parked at Kesineni Venkaiah Marg at Enikepadu in Vijayawada on Friday.

Hardly a week after an altercation with the Transport Commissioner and subsequent developments, Vijayawada MP and Kesineni Travels owner Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) has decided to quit the transport business. Kesineni Travels, which has footfalls in 16 States, will be off the roads from Friday.

The firm returned the money to customers who made advance bookings to travel in Kesineni Travels buses. The organisation has a fleet of 164 buses covering various routes.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu summoned Mr. Nani, when he was just about to address a press conference on Friday. What transpired between the Chief Minister and Mr. Nani is not immediately known.

“The MP is upset over repeated accusations that the private travels mafia is pulling the strings. So, he has decided to quit the transport business with a sole objective that his business interests should not bring disgrace to the party (TDP),” said sources close to Mr. Nani.

The MP has been at loggerheads with the officials demanding action against the errant private travels. Mr. Nani and Vijayawada (Central) MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao were pulled up by the Chief Minister following their apparent rude behaviour with Transport Commissioner N. Balasubrahmanyam. Subsequently, they apologised to the Transport Commissioner.

High drama

Earlier, in the day, high drama was witnessed when Mr. Nani, who convened a press meet to announce his quitting of transport business, abruptly cancelled the meet following a call from Mr. Naidu.

Members of both electronic and print media reached Kesineni Venkaiah Marg at Enkipadu, where Mr. Srinivas was to address the media at 4.30 p.m. However, he hopped on to his car with his gunmen in tow, to leave the place without answering the queries.

“The MP was keen on bringing to the notice the Chief Minister the unfair practices followed by the Transport Department, but the Opposition party was spreading false news that the MP was trying to enhance his transport business, which is not true,” said sources close to the MP.

Sources said several private buses plying on the roads of Andhra Pradesh were registered in places as far as Arunachal Pradesh. “The MP wanted action against such transport operators. Many operators were also modifying the size of the bus by increasing the length of the chassis to accommodate more people. This is dangerous for the passengers as it will have an impact on the balance leading to accidents”.