Karimnagar, July 23: The State Finance Minister Etela Rajender today said that Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) will not be privatized as it is an asset of the common man.
Launching Rs 10-crore worth modernization works of Karimnagar Bus Stand along with Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy, TSRTC Chairman Somarapu Satyanarayana, ZP Chairperson T Uma and others, Rajender said, “Since the TSRTC is an asset of the people, we will not privatize it under any circumstances. The State government offered Rs 1,000 crore to the RTC to protect its interests while the previous government failed to do so. We will spend adequate funds to modernize the depots and improve facilities for the commuters”, he said.
The Finance Minister said it was estimated that Rs 40 crore were needed for the modernization of the RTC bus stands with all facilities. “Initially, we will release Rs 14 crore for the purpose and take up the remaining works in a phased manner. We are focusing on developing every department and offer best services to the people”, he said and asked the RTC management to strive to provide better transport facility to the villages which were deprived of it so far. While Rs 38 crore will be spent for removing power lines on the roofs of houses in the villages, the minister said it was estimated to spend about Rs 60 crore for providing modern facilities in the schools in all districts, Rajender stated.
Transport Minister Mahender Reddy said the RTC was incurring about Rs 1.5 cross loss every days. He said 90 lakh people have been utilizing RTC buses to reach their destinations and steps were being taken to improve connectivity to all rural areas. Some 1,200 villages have no bus facility yet, Reddy said, adding that though the government offered Rs 10 crore for modernization works, we sought Rs 4 cr more.
Somarapu Satyanarayana said Rs 1,000 crore loss was being incurred due to low occupancy rate in RTC buses. While Rs 500 crore loss was being incurred by Palle Velugu services Rs 500 crore loss was City buses. “We are planning to increase revenue through other means”, he said.
Later, the ministers also planted saplings at Jagtial as part of third phase of Harithaharam program.