Visakhapatnam: CPI, BJP up in arms against hike in RTC fare

Visakhapatnam: The hike in the fares of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) charges should be withdrawn with immediate effect, demanded CPI State general secretary J V Satyanarayana.

Staging a protest near Telugu Talli statue at Maddilapalem here on Monday, the CPI members opposed the hike proposed by the State government as it would burn a hole in common man's pockets.

Speaking on the occasion, Satyanarayana said the RTC should consider alternatives to bring down the losses incurred rather than rising the bus fares. "The Central government should provide subsidy on diesel. Earlier, the TDP government also followed similar steps, making public transport an expensive affair for general public. Now, the YSRCP too following the footsteps of TDP." CPI city secretary M Pydi Raju, leaders A Vimala, S K Rehma and J D Naidu, others participated.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders took to streets to protest the hike in the RTC charges. Former MLA and BJP leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju and BJP city president M Nagendra along with others staged a protest raising slogans and displayed cards, demanding the State government to withdraw the RTC fare hike and ease the burden on common man.