CM KCR unveils action plan to revive RTC

Telangana State Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday listed out a 12-point programme to make RTC profitable with a warning that the management would not hesitate to terminate the services of staff that cause losses to the corporation.

The Chief Minister, who held a day-long detailed review meeting on RTC with officials here, took exception to the continuing strikes in the corporation for political reasons.

He expressed dissatisfaction at the large number of cases (nearly 600 are booked every month) even after government has given 44 per cent fitment benefit and regularised the services of thousands of contract employees. 

“Government is ready to resolve the problems of workers. At the same time, if a worker commits a mistake and thereby caused loss to the corporation, he/ she will be removed from the job,” said KCR during the review meeting. 

“Even after doing so many things if the corporation is making losses, generally questions arise as to why the government should run RTC,” he observed. “It is sad to note that out of the 95 depots only five depots are making profits,” he said.

Calling upon officials to put in place new practices, the Chief Minister asked them to make RTC the best corporation in the country. He said that when he was transport minister he used to conduct depot-wise review meetings and brought out changes, resulting in profits.

He asked the corporation to run mini AC buses and offer services till the doorstep of the passenger. “If there are more number of passengers, then the bus can be taken to their doorstep,” he added.

Stating that there were only two bus terminals in the city, the Chief Minister wanted officials to have more terminals in all corners of the city for the convenience of passengers. He wanted officials to try out new ways to generate revenue and suggested them to have advertisements in bus stops and buses. 

He wanted officials to use buses as cargo and courier services as RTC buses go to about 2,800 places from Hyderabad. Stating that private operators



were misusing permits, KCR wanted officials to ensure that there are no illicit operations. He said that private operators were taking inter-district permits and running buses illegally to other places.

Stating that there was no scientific approach for a hike in bus fares, KCR wanted officials to increase prices incrementally as and when required without keeping it pending for four to five years and imposing burden on people.

He wanted officials to improve the quality of services by providing better amenities, maintaining clean bus stands and also concentrate on providing non-vegetarian food in RTC bus stands and canteens. bHe asked them to use modern technology for providing services and reach out to passengers. “Since the formation of new districts is certain, officials should think on ways to make RTC viable,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed on equal number of inter-state permits between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He asked officials to have mini theaters in depots wherever they feel is necessary.He said the government would do everything possible for the corporation, including allocating funds in the budget. 

He said that GHMC has been asked to support RTC and recently the commissioner handed over a cheque of Rs 198 crore. He asked officials to have a new executive director (revenue) for timely review of the revenues.

Stating that the transport department was ready to support the corporation, the Chief Minister appointed joint transport commissioner B Venkateshwarlu as convenor for coordination between the department and the corporation. He asked them to review the performance on a daily basis.

He directed officials to run buses where there is demand from the public. “Run buses to Shirdi, Tirupati and other festivals like Pushkaralu as people generally visit these places,” he said. The CM asked officials to decrease the deposit money of buses booked for marriages and other private programmes. The RTC should think in the same way like private operators. He asked them to prepare a depot-wise year-long calendar.