Transport Minister Perni Venkataramaiah on Wednesday said action would be initiated against private bus operators who had permission to operate as tourist buses but were running them as stage carriers.
He said tourist buses operating as stage carriers would be seized. Their illicit operations, the Minister said, were eating into the revenue of the A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses.
Pointing to the fact that the Transport Department had started inspecting operation of such unauthorised buses, he said the department was also focussed on steps to bring down the number of road accidents and the related deaths.
Revolving fund
The Minister said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had instructed the department to work in this direction, and had assured grant of a revolving fund of ₹100 crore.
Responding to a query on the proposed merger of the APSRTC with the government, he said the expert committee was studying the modalities and it would submit its report in 90 days.
Officials of the Transport Department booked cases against 54 private travel buses and seized them for violating rules across the State. The raids were conducted during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday at Vijayawada, Anantapur and Visakhapatnam, and 374 contract carriage permit buses were checked.
According to a release, four buses were being plied without paying taxes and four buses were plying without the mandatory second driver. Two other buses were plying with additional seats fitted without permission. Bus drivers were also caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
‘Raids will continue’
Raids will be continued in the State, officials said.
