The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is contemplating hiring all private buses.
The issue came up for discussion at an RTC board meeting recently and the proposal for takeover of private buses was sent to the government.
According to sources, the government has instructed the officials to prepare a hire package for private bus operators. Meanwhile, the APSRTC authorities are understood to have decided to have an in-depth discussion on the issue soon.
It has been estimated that APSRTC has been losing an annual revenue of Rs 1,000 crore because of illegal private bus operators. Private operators are cashing in on the Corporation’s lack of funds to provide more comfort to passengers by introducing buses equipped with latest technology. As many as 1,200 private buses are plying every day.
According to sources, transport minister Botcha Satyanarayana has instructed the transport officials to intensify the ongoing raids against private buses.
An APSRTC official said by hiring private buses, losses incurred by the state-owned transport company could be made good.
However, private bus operators appear to be in no mood to accept the APSRTC’s proposal.
