VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) would not be privatised and steps have already been initiated to turn it into a profit-making body, transport minister S Raghava Rao has reiterated.
Inaugurating a new bus depot at Madhurawada Tuesday, the minister said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wanted reforms in the APSRTC so that it makes profits. As part of it, as many as 1,600 new buses had been introduced by the APSRTC during the past 11 months, post-bifurcation, he pointed out and called up on the APSRTC management and workers’ unions to work in tandem so the corporation can tide over the losses.
The present Dwaraka Bus Complex in the city would be developed at a cost of Rs 200 crore. Similarly, the bus stations in Tirupati and Vijayawada would also be developed further. The government had also decided to extend RTC services to the poor and the rural populace of the state as well, he informed.
Earlier, Raghava Rao along with HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao launched 17 Metro Luxury air-conditioned buses here. On the occasion, Ganta Srinivasa Rao stated that the new Madhurawada bus depot would be developed as a model depot with all facilities. Meanwhile, the chief minister would lay the foundation stone for the Signature Tower in Madhurawada soon, he added.
APSRTC vice-chairman and managing director N Sambasiva Rao announced that direct Hyderabad services would be run from Madhurawada. The newly launched a/c buses would be operated from Visakhapatnam Railway Station, Vizianagaram and Dwaraka Bus Complex to Anakapalle and from Visakhapatnam to Srikakulam.