Commuters travelling in APSRTC long distance buses can now look forward to relaxing in a plush ambience during the journey as the management is planning to construct “RTC Points”, equipped with sufficient parking space, cafeterias and well maintained rest rooms.
The decision taken by the authorities will put paid to the practice of RTC drivers of stopping buses at roadside eateries and shanties forcing commuters to compromise on quality of food and use dingy rest rooms. RTC Managing Director N. Sambasiva Rao said that efforts were underway to construct two ‘RTC Points’ in every 90 km on either side of the road in the high traffic corridors across the State.
The facility will come up on the RTC-owned lands in different potential routes such as Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada, Nellore-Vijayawada, Kurnool-Vijayawada, Tirupati-Vijayawada and Anantapur-Kurnool.
“If need be, we will acquire land. Modalities such as locations and budget requirement for setting up RTC Points are being worked out,” he said, adding that the management was also focusing on improving facilities at bus stations as well.
Deluxe lounges, equipped with television sets, air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi facilities are being planned exclusively for AC bus passengers at bus stations. One such lounge would be launched in Visakhapatnam in a few days and this would be followed with one more in Vijayawada.
Admitting poor maintenance of toilets at bus stations, the RTC MD said outsourcing of maintenance of toilets to private organisations was not yielding results.
This is even after the corporation earning Rs.50 lakh every year by letting out the maintenance of toilets to private managements, which collect nominal charges from commuters.
“We will take a decision on the outsourcing of the maintenance of toilets,” said Mr. Rao.
