Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100759710400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

APSRTC, private bus operators go for the kill

Staff Reporter

RTC charges 50 per cent extra fare

RTC officials say the buses return empty and extra fare is meant to cover up operational costs
Private bus operators attribute the hike to increased road tax

Hyderabad: The current holiday season is the best time for private bus operators as also the APSRTC to make some extra money.

With a series of holidays beginning Tuesday, every bus, private or government run, is going full and those opting for special buses are now forced to shell out extra money.

While the RTC is operating 2,249 special buses till Fridaycharging 50 per cent extra, private operators have simply doubled the fare. While the normal RTC fare for Vijayawada from Hyderabad (285 km) in a hi-tech bus is Rs. 157, it is now put at Rs. 235 even though. The special bus is mostly be an express service or an ordinary type.

The private operators used to charge Rs. 215 (for hi-tech bus) for Vijayawada, but now they are collecting around Rs. 350. For private air-conditioned bus, the charge is around Rs. 600. With no control over the fares of private buses, the operators could even hike the fares further depending on the rush on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“There is no option. The RTC itself is encouraging the private operators to charge more, as it has hiked the fares for the special buses,” fumes P. Koteswara Rao, a native of Visakhapatnam.

He had to pay Rs. 1,050 for a one-way trip to his hometown in a private bus operated by Sri Lakshmi Travels in Lakdikapul. The RTC officials justify the fare-hike for special buses arguing that the operation of special buses requires lot of manpower and other services. The buses return almost empty and these extra charges are meant to cover up the operational costs, reasons out, P. Ravindra Babu, RM of Ranga Reddy region.

The private operators have different justification for the hike. The road tax was hiked from Rs. 2, 670 to Rs. 3, 675 per seat per quarter. “Also we have to take care of police challans for starting the services before the stipulated time of 10 p.m.,” points out Prakash Rao of Krishnaveni Travels. In addition to these expenses, we need to pay double allowances for drivers for special trips, he explains.