Date:24/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/24/stories/2007022420030100.htm

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Combined RTC-MMTS ticket 400 per month

Special Correspondent

Meet chaired by Chief Secretary with RTC, SCR officials breaks the deadlock

Combined bus-rail ticket put at Rs. 400 per month

Railways urged to expedite the proposal for creation of SPV

HYDERABAD: The contentious combined bus-rail ticket for the multi-modal transit system (MMTS) was finalised finally with the RTC and the SCR burying the hatchet here on Friday.

The combined bus-rail ticket has been put at Rs. 400 per month with the corporation and railways sharing it equally. The Government would reimburse the RTC with Rs. 90 per ticket to offset the possible dent into its revenue flow on account of MMTS services, official sources said.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary J. Harinarayana with RTC and SCR officials.

While the SCR pegged the common ticket at Rs. 400 on an equal-sharing basis, the RTC relented last week but with a rider seeking reimbursement of at least Rs. 90 per ticket as its general bus pass costs Rs. 340.

Feeder services

The RTC agreed to reintroduce feeder services which were discontinued following poor patronage. While the meeting wanted mini buses to be operated to provide the crucial link to MMTS stations, the RTC authorities said they would finalise the mode of transport soon.

Mr. Harinarayana wanted the railway authorities to expedite the proposal for creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to run the MMTS services on commercial lines, pending with the Railway Board. All the stations except Secunderabad, Nampally and Kacheguda are to be handed over to the SPV for commercial operations.