The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) terminals and buildings sported a new look having been spruced up on the occasion of inauguration of new services by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Monday. Live tracking of city buses, APSRTC app, Y screens at arrival terminal, i-tims (intellectual tims) ticket-booking kiosks are some of the services that were launched by Mr. Naidu.
The Chief Minister flagged off a fleet of buses fitted with GPS and LCD screens behind every seat. The ‘i-tims’ (ticket-issuing machines) will send messages to the control room on the number of seats available in the bus soon after every ticket is issued. The passengers can buy their tickets at the kiosks by feeding in their details and making payment.
And, through e-wallet, the passengers can deposit some amount with the RTC to make future purchases. They can avail themselves of concessions and many facilities with e-wallet. If a ticket is cancelled, the amount will be remitted immediately into the e-wallet account.
Passengers travelling long distances can break journey or book tickers for connecting buses and can pass their time at the two mini theatres with Y screens.
NTR Block
Addressing the media after the slew of inaugurations, Mr. Naidu said the RTC had spent Rs.10 crore on the construction of NTR Administrative Block, which was constructed in just six months to shift the administration of RTC. Facilities at the corporate level have been created at the administrative block. The city bus port was constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.2 crore, he said.
Concession for
senior citizens
The Chief Minister said the government gave fitment of 43 per cent to the RTC employees. It entailed a burden of Rs. 650 crore but the government announced it as 66,000 employees would be benefited. As many as 67 lakh to 70 lakh passengers travel in RTC buses, he said, adding, “I have suggested to the RTC authorities to provide 25 per cent concession to senior citizens. The authorities have agreed to it.”
The government planned to introduce LNG buses and electric buses. The LNG terminal would be in place in the next few months. Surplus power that would be available in the days to come would be used to drive the RTC buses, he added. Transport Minister Siddha Raghava Rao, RTC MD N. Rammohan Rao and others were present.
Mr. Naidu handed over a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh to the wife of constable Srinivas Rao of Gudivada depot, who died recently. The insurance was given as part of group personal accident insurance claim. The RTC employees donated one-day salary for the construction of Amaravati.
