APSRTC beefs up fleet ahead of summer

Vijayawada: Keeping in view the huge demand for the air-conditioned buses in the summer, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has decided to increase its AC bus fleet from the existing 263 buses to 347 buses by purchasing 84 more new AC buses.

The RTC now owns 107 Indra buses and will get 48 more buses by April, 2019. The corporation will buy 20 Vennela buses in addition to the existing 7 buses. The RTC will get 12 AC sleeper buses in addition to the existing 3 buses.

Amaravati buses, which are the advanced version of Garuda plus buses, have a huge demand in the state. Currently, the RTC owns 68 Amaravati buses and going to procure 4 more buses. Besides, the corporation is operating 62 Garuda AC buses and intends to purchase 16 more Garuda AC buses for the convenience of passengers.  

The RTC is operating the AC buses between Vijayawada-Hyderabad, Vijayawada-Bengaluru and Vijayawada-Vizag. A senior officer related to operations in the RTC said the corporation was purchasing 84 new AC buses because the occupancy ratio (OR) in the AC buses is almost full in the summer.

He said the RTC has received 10 new buses out of the 84 AC buses ordered for the summer season that begins in April. Of the 20 new Vennela buses ordered by the RTC, the Vijayawada region already received 10 buses.   Vennela sleeper buses have 30 berths and are more comfortable for the night travel on long distance routes.

The RTC is also purchasing 12 new type of AC seating plus and sleeper buses. In these buses, seats are allotted for normal mode travel and some are allotted for the berths.  Six special buses are having 15 upper berths and 33 seats. Six buses are having 15 upper berths, five lower berths and 22 seats.  

The RTC is facing competition from Telangana RTC and private travels. In view of the competition, the RTC is gearing up for summer rush and purchasing more buses for the convenience of passengers.