Khammam RTC earns Rs 15.38 crore by plying special services during Pushkaralu

Though it ran free services from parking lots at Sarapaka to Bhadrachalam, it earned Rs 15.38 crore by plying special services from various destinations in the state.

Khammam region RTC plied 190 services daily from July 14 to 25 to Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Miryalaguda, Wanaparthy, Nizamabad, Vemulawada, Warangal, Parkal, Dharmapuri and Kaleswaram. Buses from the six depots in the district at Khammam, Yellandu, Sattupalli, Kothagudem, Bhadrachalam and Madhira were used for the special services. In all, about one lakh commuters used the special buses in the Khammam RTC region.

The corporation collected fares on par with Indra service, an AC service that connects major towns to Hyderabad; 68 ordinary buses plied as special services during the Pushkaralu.

Many of the general passengers who were not connected to the Pushkaralu, used these specials services to reach their destinations.

RTC official Ramoorthy said pilgrims preferred the RTC buses. “Pilgrims were taken directly to the pushkar ghats in the temple town,” he said.

The RTC ran 13,974 free trips to transport pilgrims from parking lots of Sarapaka to Bhadrachalam. About eight lakh devotees coming in private vehicles till Bhadrachalam used these free services.

RTC employee P. Rama Rao said the revenue earned during the Pushkaralu came as a relief to the corporation, which is facing heavy losses.