APSRTC proposes bus fare hike

Rural services however to remain exempted

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is contemplating a fare hike. This step is expected to be an eternal challenge to clearing its accumulated losses, nearly Rs. 1,129 crore and the need to bring in more resources for development. The Corporation is seriously of hiking fares, particularly in Garuda, Meghadoot, Deluxe, Super Luxury and Express services. However, rural commuters traveling by Palle Velugu services, comprising of 55 percent of the entire fleet will be spared.

Speaking to the media, the APSRTC Vice chairman and Managing Director V Dinesh Reddy said that city services will be covered in the proposed fare hike though. The fare hike proposal will be placed at the Board of Directors meeting to be held on October 22 and the officials are busy in finalizing the new fares shortly.

Dinesh Reddy said that the wage revision of 1.2 lakh employees is causing an additional expenditure of Rs. 200 crore per annum. In addition, the increase in prices of diesel during the last four years and expansion of the fleet are some of the reasons behind the fare hike. To begin with, 50 vestibule buses, which can carry up to 200 passengers at a time on major routes are proposed to be launched and each vestibule bus costs around Rs.50 lakhs. He added that even air conditioned buses would be introduced on some corridors of the twin cities from early next year.