80 new state-of-the-art buses for Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: In another four months time, Hyderabad will have 80 new state-of-the-art luxury buses plying on its roads on various important routes. The state and Central governments will share 50 percent of the total expenditure pegged at Rs 80 crore.
Disclosing this to media persons at Bus Bhavan here, Telangana transport minister P Mahender Reddy said the new buses will be procured as part of providing better facilities in the state capital on par with other metros.
'Each bus will cost Rs 1 crore and eighty such buses are being procured for Hyderabad and the entire process will be completed in the next four months time. The state government will bear 15 percent while the Centre will bear 35 percent of the total expenditure, with rest being borne by the RTC,' he explained.
Reddy said chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is determined to have the best of the world-class facilities and practices in Hyderabad. In that direction a team of officials from the transport department and RTC will visit Mumbai shortly to study operations of the RTC in the commercial capital of the country, known to have one of the best road transportation system. 'We will adopt the system in Hyderabad as per its needs,' he said.
Stating that there is no proper road connectivity to as many as 1,300 villages in the state, the transport minister said the TRS government is determined to have bus connectivity to every village in Telangana. 'We are planning to set up 21 new bus depots in Telangana with 10-11 of them in Ranga Reddy district itself,' he said.
Mahender Reddy said since procuring private lands for setting up bus depots will be a costly affair, it has been decided to have government lands allocated for the purpose.
He said though RTC has been suffering losses every effort is being made to see that no additional burden is put on the commuters. 'In fact, the state has most economical bus fares compared to other states,' he pointed out.
Proposals
■ 21 new bus depots to come up in Telangana
■ Bus connectivity to every village
■ Team from transport dept and RTC to visit Mumbai to study bus operations there
■ Decision soon on change of number plates
News Posted: 18 July, 2014
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