Despite being part of the much-touted capital region of Andhra Pradesh, Guntur is still waiting for APSRTC's city services. The lack of state transport facility has irked denizens, who point out that smaller towns such as Ongole will have RTC services up and running from Vijayadasami, following transport minister Sidda Raghava Rao's recent announcement.
"The APSRTC management has conveniently ignored the demand for a city bus service in Guntur, but bowed to political pressure and introduced it in Ongole," said P Mastan Rao, a college lecturer.
The transport corporation has been plying city services in two big cities of AP - Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam - apart from Hyderabad and Warangal in Telangana. Ongole is a surprise addition to the elite club. "Guntur is more deserving of an intra-city public transport facility. It should get both metro rail connectivity and city bus services as it forms part of the state capital region. Since metro rail is not being taken up as an inter-city project due to its high cost, APSRTC should at least introduce city buses," said TDP leader Mannava Subba Rao.
In fact, APSRTC had planned city services about six years ago when Congress heavyweight from the district, Kanna Lakshminarayana, handled the transport portfolio. But the plans did not materialize due to the opposition from the APSRTC management, which cited losses incurred by city services in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
When asked, APSRTC regional manager PV Rama Rao said, "We plan to introduce some city services if we get new buses under the JNNURM programme. Although we have requested 60 buses, there is no word from the government as yet."
Guntur has a population in excess of eight lakh and has an estimated floating population of about one lakh. Thousands of employees, vendors, daily wagers and students shuttle between the city and neighbouring areas such as Perecherla, Nallapadu, Reddipalem, Pedakakani, Jonnalagadda, Uppalapadu, Chebrolu, Narakoduru and Budampadu. Incidentally, 70 per cent of VGTM Urban Development Authority falls in Guntur district. But with the lack of a city bus service, people depend on autos and seven-seater vehicles to commute.
"The APSRTC management has conveniently ignored the demand for a city bus service in Guntur, but bowed to political pressure and introduced it in Ongole," said P Mastan Rao, a college lecturer.
The transport corporation has been plying city services in two big cities of AP - Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam - apart from Hyderabad and Warangal in Telangana. Ongole is a surprise addition to the elite club. "Guntur is more deserving of an intra-city public transport facility. It should get both metro rail connectivity and city bus services as it forms part of the state capital region. Since metro rail is not being taken up as an inter-city project due to its high cost, APSRTC should at least introduce city buses," said TDP leader Mannava Subba Rao.
In fact, APSRTC had planned city services about six years ago when Congress heavyweight from the district, Kanna Lakshminarayana, handled the transport portfolio. But the plans did not materialize due to the opposition from the APSRTC management, which cited losses incurred by city services in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
When asked, APSRTC regional manager PV Rama Rao said, "We plan to introduce some city services if we get new buses under the JNNURM programme. Although we have requested 60 buses, there is no word from the government as yet."
Guntur has a population in excess of eight lakh and has an estimated floating population of about one lakh. Thousands of employees, vendors, daily wagers and students shuttle between the city and neighbouring areas such as Perecherla, Nallapadu, Reddipalem, Pedakakani, Jonnalagadda, Uppalapadu, Chebrolu, Narakoduru and Budampadu. Incidentally, 70 per cent of VGTM Urban Development Authority falls in Guntur district. But with the lack of a city bus service, people depend on autos and seven-seater vehicles to commute.