The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is reeling under huge losses and post bifurcation a section of employees unions are pitching for introduction of goods transportation service using RTC buses to generate additional revenue and cover up losses to an extent.
Of the cumulative losses of over Rs. 4,000 crore, A.P.’s share is nearly Rs.3,000 crore. Presently, a private company utilises the RTC fleet for cargo and pays Rs. 1 crore every month to RTC as part of the agreement.
The unions are of the opinion that RTC already has the required infrastructure, fleet and experienced staff, especially professional drivers to launch and maintain the goods transport service. Post bifurcation, RTC operates over 12,000 buses in the 13 districts.
Employees had even taken up the issue with Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao during a recent meeting. With fuel and operational costs rising steadily every year, RTC losses are also increasing subsequently. There is a need to control and employees feel introducing goods transportation using RTC will not aid in generating more revenue but will also help in optimum utilisation of fleet.
The need of the hour was to get the corporation back on profit making path and to achieve this different options should be tried. Introducing goods transportation is one such idea. RTC has sufficient fleet, depots and experienced drivers to maintain the service, all the government has to do is support the corporation and grant necessary permission, says RTC Employees Union deputy general secretary P. Damodar.
“If the corporation launches its own goods transportation service, it could generate more revenue than the existing sum being paid by the private company. More importantly, buses, which completed 10 lakh km operations have to be scrapped, such buses could be used to launch the goods transportation service,” he explains.
Interestingly, the corporation had conducted couple of studies in the past over the issue but for reasons better known to the authorities, it did not materialise.
There is definitely potential but goods transportation is linked with client service and requires a lot of accountability. Private companies, take the responsibility of delivery and damage if any but given the employees attitude, it can be a task at least administration wise, says a senior official.
RTC has sufficient fleet, depots and experienced drivers .All the government has to do is support the corporation and grant necessary permission.
P. Damodar
RTC Employees Union deputy general secretary
All the government has to do is support the corporation and grant necessary permission,
says P. Damodar
RTC Employees Union leader
