CM KCR asks RTC to launch cargo services

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao kickstarted efforts for strengthening Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) and in a first such effort, directed the officials to prepare a strategy to launch the cargo and parcel services to all destinations, wherever an RTC bus could reach. He also cleared the proposals for setting up an Employees Welfare Board for RTC employees to resolve their issues and finalised its working guidelines.

At a high-level review meeting on TSRTC at Pragathi Bhavan here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister discussed various issues, including proposals to turn the corporation into a profit-making unit, implementation of promises made to RTC employees, and strengthening the goods transportation network among other issues. He pointed out that RTC was operating buses to several cities, towns and even villages in the State and neighbouring States to transport lakhs of people. “In a similar way, goods and parcels should be transported to each and every place, including those in remote areas, using the entire fleet,” he said.

Taking the initiative, Chandrashekhar Rao announced that henceforth, all the goods and parcel transportation of the government departments will be done through the RTC cargo and parcel service.

Instructions were issued to all departments concerned to transport government goods such as distribution of Bathukamma sarees, books for educational institutions, liquor supplies from the depots,



medicinal supplies to hospitals and all other goods being supplied by the government. Thus, the government departments also will be able to cut down on their transportation costs.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to take measures and encourage people to utilise the RTC cargo and parcel services, rather than private networks. Public and goods transportation will be strengthened to places such as Mumbai, Bhiwandi, Solapur, Nagpur, Jagdalpur and other areas where there is considerable Telangana population. Stock points will be established in Hyderabad and other cities for the export and import of goods and parcels. “If we increase the goods transport it will be beneficial to the people and also fetch profits to TSRTC. Impart training to the employees on goods transportation and also ensure that buses are fit to transport them,” he added.

Further, the Chief Minister gave his nod to set up TSRTC Employees Welfare Board to resolve the employees’ problems, and implement assurances given to them. With two representatives from each depot, there will be 202 board members comprising 94 BC members, 38 SCs, 26 STs, and 44 OCs, providing representation to all sections at the State level. The board will also have 73 women members. The board meetings will be held once in a week at the depot level, once in a month at the regional level, once in three months at the corporation level, to address any issues pertaining to employees.