Tirupati: Vice chairman and MD of APSRTC N.V. Surendra Babu said on Monday that the corporation was in need of Rs 660 crore to buy new buses and replace some old ones and that they have been looking for help from the state government in this regard.
Addressing mediapersons at the RTC hall in the city, Mr. Babu explained that as the occupancy ratio on the whole had reached 78 per cent, there was a need to increase the fleet and that the corporation needs to recruit Rs 250 crore to purchase 1,000 new buses. The remaining amount is required to replace some old buses, he added.
The corporation had already requested the government to allocate the required funds and is expecting this in the next full budget, he said.
Announcing that the RTC has decided to construct a bus port at the airport in Tirupati, he said that the corporation was looking for 15 acres.
“Once we get the required land, works will be taken up with the budgetary support from the Centre and state,” he added.
The MD announced that the corporation would introduce 80 electric buses to run between Tirupati and Tirumala soon and added that these AC buses will provide a pleasant journey to Tirumala bound pilgrims.
Reacting to the sharing of assets between AP and Telangana after bifurcation, the director said that the Sheela Bedi Committee constituted to look into the subject, has recommended sharing in six assets worth of Rs 850 crore, out of 14 assets worth Rs 1,200 crore, which the APSRTC has asked for.
“The corporation is still insisting on sharing the RTC central hospital located in Telangana. The two state governments have to plan on the recommendations of the Sheela Bedi committee and arrive at a final decision. Meanwhile, our corporation also proposed a regional hospital in Tirupati,” he said.
RTC executive director G. Venkateswara Rao and regional manager T. Chengal Reddy and others were also present at the programme.
