APSRTC vice-chairman and managing director N Sambasiva Rao has said that the recent fare hike coupled with the improvement in internal efficiency helped in placing the APSRTC into a safe zone. “At present, the corporation reached the break-even point and we are confident of bringing it into the profit zone by commercialising the assets belonging to the APSRTC and also by taking up other required steps like improving occupancy ratio.”
Addressing the mediamen after inspecting the NTR Bus Station here Friday, Sambasiva Rao pointed out that the corporation is witnessing losses in 30 to 35 routes and stressed the need to slash the number of services in routes where the APSRTC is not getting minimum income. Hinting at taking about 800 buses on hire by December-end, he stated that the APSRTC will also introduce 30 more Volvo buses and 15 Scania buses within a fortnight.
Steps have been initiated to develop the bus stations in all the district headquarters on the lines of Vijayawada Bus Station. Apart from improving the appearances of the bus stations, passengers will be provided with the best infrastructure facilities like chairs, hygienic toilets and fans besides maintaining better sanitation in the bus stations, he assured.
“Though it all takes expenditure between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1.25 crore for each bus station, we took up the works and are in the process of completing the same by the end of this year, as the chief minister and transport minister are keen on improving the facilities,” he maintained and urged the staff to strive for increasing the occupancy ratio to increase the revenue of corporation.Guntur regional manager G Srihari was present.
News: New Indian Express