Minister for Transport P. Mahender Reddy called upon all sections of people to travel in RTC buses to ensure that the corporation did not run at a loss.
The Transport Minister along with Minister for Finance Etala Rajender, Chief Whip Koppula Eshwar, TSRTC Chairman and Ramagundam legislator S. Satyanarayana and MLC Naradasu Laxman Rao flagged off 10 JNNURM city bus service in Godavarikhani coal belt area. They also flagged off an AC bus service from Godavarikhani to Tirupati.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mahender Reddy said that the RTC ensures safe travel of 90 lakh commuters every day in the State.
Though the RTC was running in loss, the government was compensating it by releasing funds.
He said that the RTC was incurring a loss of Rs. 200 crore by operating ‘Palle velugu” buses, but was still continuing the service to provide public transportation to the rural masses.
He said that they were taking measures to provide all amenities to commuters across the State. Finance Minister Etala Rajender said that the RTC was not a business enterprise and it was providing transportation to people as a social responsibility.
He said that the government recognised the services of RTC employees and increased their salary by 44 per cent when they demanded 43 per cent hike.
Chief Whip Koppula Eshwar said that RTC Godavarikhani has been running in profit as it was an industrial area.
The Corporation Chairman, S. Satyanarayana, said that the State government was taking all measures for making RTC gain profit.
RTC ED Satyanarayana, corporation Regional Manager K. Chandrashekhar and others were also present.
