Justifying the decision to levy development charge from RTC bus passengers, transport minister Botcha Satyanarayana has claimed that the additional revenue will be used to provide better services.
Speaking at the valedictory of Road Safety Week celebrations held at Bus Bhavan, APSRTC’s head office, here on Sunday, the minister said collection of development charges was imminent in view of the organisation’s precarious financial condition and its future and said the date of introduction of the charges would be announced soon.
Congratulating officials on the bagging of four national awards by the corporation, he appealed to employees to work hard to help the organisation wipe out last year’s Rs 540-crore loss and this year’s Rs 200-crore loss. He assured contract employees that their services would be regularised in a phased manner.
RTC managing director AK Khan said it was creditable for the APSRTC to bag four national awards while 68 public sector units were in competition. He said 300 breath analysers were dispatched to all RTC depots to check drunken driving.
RTC chairman M Satyanarayana Rao said the accident percentage should be reduced and appealed to the kin of drivers and conductors to stand by them in the discharge of their duties.
Incentives were given to drivers and other staff on the occasion. RTC executive directors M Ravinder Rao, GV Ramana Rao, AV Rao and G Jaya Rao were present.