Telangana MLA’s death: State to conduct fitness tests for drivers of MLAs, IPS, IAS officers

Hyderabad: In the wake of Secunderabad Cantonment MLA Lasya Nandita succumbing in a road accident near Patancheruvu on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Friday, the state government has decided to conduct fitness tests for the drivers of VIPs including MLAs, IPS and IAS officers.

In a media chit-chat at Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday, minister for Transport Ponnam Prabhakar stated that several VIPs have perished in traffic accidents as a result of being in cars operated by novice drivers. Taking a suo moto of Lasya Nandita’s death, the transport department would write to the VIPs requesting permission for their drivers to take part in the fitness tests, he said. Prabhakar advised VIPs to appoint selected drivers for travelling longer distances.

Mahalakshmi scheme

Speaking about the debts of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), he said that the RTC had incurred debts to a tune of Rs 6,000 crores in the last decade of the rule of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The women passenger turnout was high on the TSRTC buses due to the implementation of free bus travel under the Mahalakshmi scheme, he added.

The minister also said that the revenue of the endowments department was increased after the implementation of free bus travel for women as several of them are visiting various temples along with their families. Over 50 lakh women per day are travelling on the RTC buses due to the Mahalakshmi scheme, he said and added that the corporation is slowly moving towards profits.

Minister reiterates promise to auto drivers

Prabhakar also said that the state government has purchased new buses for the convenience of the public.

“We have made a fool-proof arrangement to ensure a hassle-free journey for the passengers travelling to Medaram Jatara. The government will also keep its promise of providing Rs 12,000 for auto-rickshaw drivers. In October 2023, as many as 450 auto rickshaws under GHMC and as many as 3,030 auto rickshaws were purchased,” he said.

On the caste census survey, the minister said that the government is committed to completing the procedure transparently on the lines of Bihar. Special teams will be appointed with one lakh people to cover one crore houses in Telangana. An all-party meeting will be convened shortly and inform the modalities of the caste census survey, he said and added that plans are also under consideration to constitute a committee.