HYDERABAD: In an attempt to make APSRTC commercially viable, the Andhra Pradesh government is mulling developing major bus terminals in Vishakapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Kurnool etc into multi-purpose commercial complexes. Similarly, the government has initiated steps to prevent private bus operators from increasing fares exorbitantly during festival seasons.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, transport, roads and buildings minister Sidda Raghava Rao said the commercial complexes would be set up under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) model. 'Our idea is to have a multi-layered bus station in the basement and a super structure with malls and restaurants and other commercial enterprises on the floors above," the minister said.
Speaking of the achievements of the Chandrababu Naidu government during the past 100 days, he said the debt burden on the RTC was on the rise and that at present, it stood at Rs 2,300 crore. "Still, we do not have any proposal to hike the bus fare," he said, adding that the exploitative attitude of the private operators would be curbed. He said the government had received complaints about how the private operators are hiking fares many folds during festive seasons to exploit the rush. A meeting with private operators is on the cards to straighten out the issue, the minister added.
Speaking about safety of state roads, Rao said the government has set a target of making all the roads in the state bump-free. The 'demo-corridor' between Renigunta in Chittoor district and Rayalacheruvu in Anantapur district would be completed by June 2015, he added. "The demo-corridor project, taken up with financial assistance from the World Bank, intends to integrate many departments such as roads, transport, legal, medical and police to make the roads safer. The project will take care of accident precautions and post-accident management to minimize deaths on the roads," he said. The project, he said, envisages two trauma centres located at accessible places along with effective patrolling on the roads by personnel of the transport and police departments.
Rao also said the RTC was planning to acquire about 2,100 buses to meet the demand at various areas in the state. "On its own, RTC wants to purchase 1,100 buses and take on lease 500 private buses. Another 500 buses are expected to be added to the fleet under JNNURM," the minister said.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, transport, roads and buildings minister Sidda Raghava Rao said the commercial complexes would be set up under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) model. 'Our idea is to have a multi-layered bus station in the basement and a super structure with malls and restaurants and other commercial enterprises on the floors above," the minister said.
Speaking of the achievements of the Chandrababu Naidu government during the past 100 days, he said the debt burden on the RTC was on the rise and that at present, it stood at Rs 2,300 crore. "Still, we do not have any proposal to hike the bus fare," he said, adding that the exploitative attitude of the private operators would be curbed. He said the government had received complaints about how the private operators are hiking fares many folds during festive seasons to exploit the rush. A meeting with private operators is on the cards to straighten out the issue, the minister added.
Speaking about safety of state roads, Rao said the government has set a target of making all the roads in the state bump-free. The 'demo-corridor' between Renigunta in Chittoor district and Rayalacheruvu in Anantapur district would be completed by June 2015, he added. "The demo-corridor project, taken up with financial assistance from the World Bank, intends to integrate many departments such as roads, transport, legal, medical and police to make the roads safer. The project will take care of accident precautions and post-accident management to minimize deaths on the roads," he said. The project, he said, envisages two trauma centres located at accessible places along with effective patrolling on the roads by personnel of the transport and police departments.
Rao also said the RTC was planning to acquire about 2,100 buses to meet the demand at various areas in the state. "On its own, RTC wants to purchase 1,100 buses and take on lease 500 private buses. Another 500 buses are expected to be added to the fleet under JNNURM," the minister said.
