RTC launches Metro Palle Velugu services with extra seats in Tirupati

Tirupati: APSRTC Tirupati region has introduced more metro services with increased seating capacity to fetch more income. The new 'Metro Palle Velugu' services have reached Tirupati early this week after modernisation was done at Vijayawada RTC workshop. In these new services seating facility has been increased to 63 from the previous 38.

Regional RTC officials have sent four metro services to RTC workshop in Vijayawada requesting them to increase the seating capacity. Hitherto, there used to be 38 single seats with adequate space for standing passengers. In the new system, it was decided to change the single seats to three seaters.

It may be recalled that Tirupati depot got 10 metro services under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) when Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister in December 2005. These services were meant for plying in the City only. But, as the chassis of the buses was long, the drivers found it difficult to ply the buses in the city.

Hence, the RTC officials have decided to run four services between Tirupati and Srikalahasti, Tirupati and Chandragiri routes. The remaining buses were run in Pallipattu and Vedurukuppam routs as there was more demand.

Out of the four services with 63 seating capacity, two services are being run in Pallipattu route while the remaining two have to be readied with some fitting works. The officials have felt that these services will provide comfortable traveling experience to passengers as they can sit and travel in the busy routes.