VIJAYAWADA: For the first time after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the transport ministers K Atchannaidu (Andhra Pradesh) and P Mahendra Reddy (Telangana) convened a meeting here on Wednesday to discuss the modalities to be followed in resolving long-pending transport related issues and inter-state reciprocal agreement.
As part of the meeting, the ministers discussed the issues related to goods vehicles, private travels buses, school/industry buses, APSRTC and it’s employes transfers.
Of them, the major issue operation of RTC buses between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State will be sorted out in the next meeting to be held at Hyderabad on May 27.
Later, addressing a press conference, AP transport minister K Atchannaidu said that State Government has been formulating proposals to find a solution to the inter-state transport related issues, which are pending since 2014.
As part of the meeting, the Telangana transport department has came to principle understanding on four issues such as goods and transport vehicles, school and industries vehicles at border areas, he said.
Atchannaidu also stressed the need to design a road map with the support of traffic inspectors to sort issues related to APSRTC and TSRTC. He said that APSRTC has been operating buses covering around 3.30 lakh km in Telangana region before bifurcation and it was reduced to 2.20 lakh km. At the same time Telangana increased bus services covering 1.20 lakh km in Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy said that three of two major issues except RTC have almost solved.
Transport permit fee of goods vehicles reduced
According to the sources in transport department, the ministers took a decision decreasing the transport permit fee of goods vehicles (lorries) `8,000 (per 3 months) against the existing fee of `48,000. Another significant decision is to waive the permit fee collected for the school buses or vehicles located at border districts.