Devise plan to buy new bus to meet growing demand: CM Revanth to TGSRTC
The CM asked RTC authorities to take into consideration the demand and new travel routes before purchasing the buses
By Newsmeter Network Published on 11 Sep 2024 2:10 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has asked the TGSRTC to devise a plan for the purchase of new buses to meet the growing demand for public transport in the state.
The Chief Minister asked RTC authorities to take into consideration the demand and new travel routes before purchasing the buses.
The CM was chairing a review meeting on TGSRTC on Tuesday. The Chief Minister inquired about the occupancy rate in the buses under the Mahalakshmi scheme which provides free travel on the RTC buses.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar briefed the CM about the implementation of the Mahalakshmi scheme saying that 83.42 crore women travelled free of cost on RTC buses.
The scheme helped women to save Rs 2,840. 71 crore. The government has been implementing the scheme successfully in 7,292 RTC buses.
In the PowerPoint presentation, the minister explained that the number of women coming to hospitals in Hyderabad from various districts has increased. The minister also showed the articles published in the newspapers on the successful implementation of the Mahalakshmi scheme in the presentation.
The RTC officials briefed the CM about the utilization of funds from various banks, employees-provided funds and pending dues to be paid to the retired employees. In all, the debts accumulated are to the tune of Rs 6,332 crore. Given the high interest rate on the loans borrowed from the banks, the Chief Minister asked the officials to conduct a study on reducing the interest rates and restructuring the debts.
CM Revanth Reddy wanted the debt burden on the Corporation to be gradually reduced. Officials informed the CM that the RTC is earning profits with the increase in occupancy rate and the reimbursement paid by the government for the Mahalakshmi scheme. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Chief Minister's Secretaries Chandrasekhar Reddy, Shanawaz Qasim, Transport Department Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj, TGRTC MD Sajjanar, and other officials participated in the review.
