No AP State Road Transport fare hike despite losses: Transport minister

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government announced here on Thursday that fares of AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses would not be hiked, though it incurs a daily loss of Rs 2.7 crore, topping an accumulated loss of Rs 2,600 crore.

"APSRTC authorities proposed a 15 per cent hike in fares but the government is not willing to accept that," the state's Transport, Roads and Buildings Minister Sidda Raghava Rao said.

Addressing a press conference after a departmental review meeting, he said that the public transporter incurs a daily loss of Rs 2.7 crore because of bad buses causing frequent breakdowns, high taxation and illicit private operations. It had an accumulated loss of Rs 2,600 crore after bifurcation of the state.

"We have to immediately replace old buses to cut down losses. We will discuss it with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and take a decision," the minister said.

Asked if the state government would take over APSRTC, the minister said this issue also would be discussed with the Chief Minister.

"Our main focus is to pull out APSRTC out of the red by improving services," Raghava Rao noted.