Ponnam Reviews RTC’s Performance During 30 Months of Public Governance
The Minister stated that between 2023-26, the State government had purchased 2,815 new buses with an expenditure of Rs.1,078 crore
Hyderabad: Following completion of 30 months since the formation of the State government, Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar conducted a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat on the progress of TGSRTC and its future action plans.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stated that between 2023-26, the State government had purchased 2,815 new buses with an expenditure of Rs.1,078 crore. He also revealed that two new depots had been sanctioned in Nagaram and Peddapalli.
He informed that the Tarnaka RTC Hospital had been developed from a primary medical services level to a hospital providing super specialty services. He said that a total of 1,137 compassionate appointments had been made under the Bread Winner Scheme and Medical Invalidation.
Among them, there are 888 conductors, 10 drivers, 43 workers, and 196 constables, he explained. Due to the measures taken by the government to improve the financial condition of the RTC, the CSS arrears have reduced from Rs.1,096.90 crore to Rs.862 crore, and PF arrears from Rs.2,018.15 crore to Rs.1,714.39 crore, he stated.
Similarly, he mentioned that SRBS and SBT arrears had also been reduced by Rs.493.02 crore. He directed the officials to immediately complete the pending eligible compassionate appointments.
He indicated that out of 490 employees removed from service, 244 have already been reinstated, and the remaining cases should be reviewed expeditiously. He ordered the study the impact of the Mahalakshmi scheme on women's economic empowerment and record feedback.
In the context of making women's groups owners of 553 buses and providing them to RTC on a rental basis, he suggested collecting their opinions as well. He directed the officials to submit a comprehensive report on the 1,050 electric buses currently operating in the state, including which routes they are running on, which are profitable routes, and which routes are incurring losses.
Currently, the RTC has 10,173 buses and 38,128 employees, traveling about 35 lakh kilometers daily and providing services to approximately 61 lakh passengers, he informed. He ordered to expedite the works on Nagar Kurnool and Peddapalli bus depots and to complete the construction of Mulugu bus station quickly.
Prabhakar suggested taking steps to lay the foundation stones for Vemulawada and Kathlapur bus stations within a week. He reviewed the restoration works of Munugode, Chandur, and Marriguda bus stations and the site inspection of Nampally bus station.
The Minister directed the officials to expedite the Madhira bus station works and prepare plans so that the foundation stone for the bus station could be laid through the hands of the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during the visit to Mahbubnagar.
He suggested conducting foundation stone laying ceremonies soon for Huzurnagar, Kodad, and Nagar Kurnool bus stations. He said that the Godavari Khani bus station should be utilized more efficiently commercially. He ordered the officials to specially visit Mancherial, Chennoor, Medak, Bellampalli, Parkal, Mulkanur, Dharmapuri, and Maktal bus stations and submit reports on the construction and renovation of bus stations where necessary.
Announcing that the 11 per cent fitment related to RPS-2021, as promised by the government during the RTC Sammelan, is being implemented from July 1, the Minister directed to discuss with the election authority for RTC recognition unions and initiate the union election process.
He suggested completing the process of handing over a Rs.1 crore cheque soon to the family of the employee Shankar who committed suicide, collected from employees' funds, along with providing a job to one family member and sanctioning an Indiramma house.
He informed that so far, 11 cases have been resolved under the Employees' Accident Insurance Scheme, and cheques of Rs.1 crore each have been provided to the respective families. He directed to take steps to conduct a special meeting with Transport Department Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, and RTC MDs of South Indian states on pollution control, EV policy, and expansion of electric buses.
The Minister suggested to the officials to expedite the land exchange processes required for the development of RTC bus stations.
