Hyderabad: A Government Order has increased the charges for Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses which are hired for election duty. The new fare is Rs 20,000 per bus per day. Another GO was also released on the same day, i.e., December 5, revising the hire charges of private vehicles, after many drivers refused to be engaged for election work because of the increase in fuel prices and the low hire charges.
The managing director of TSRTC had written a letter to the government requesting enhancement of the special hire charges for buses supplied for elections, from Rs 14,000 to Rs 21,000 per bus per day, and also Rs 53 per kilometre and a minimum of 350 km as minimum chargeable instead of the existing Rs 35.
After considering the request, the government has confirmed Rs 20,000 per bus and Rs 45 per kilometre in the Government Order dated December 5, 2018. The order also stipulated that no proposal for an increase would be entertained in the next five years.
When it comes to the hire charges of private vehicles, there was a difference of two to four hundred rupees, depending on the type of vehicle, in the revised prices and the move has been welcomed by the taxi unions.
Earlier, when RTA officers had asked cab drivers to attend to election duty, many had refused outright, though it was a violation according to the rules. However after negotiations the prices were increased.
