RTC headquarter assets issue still hangs fire

 Hyderabad: The contentious issue of sharing the headquarter assets between two Telugu States remains unresolved as the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) categorically said the properties of Telangana cannot be shared and only Bus Bhavan falls under the category of headquarters assets.

The headquarter assets have been bone of contention between the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation. While the Andhra Pradesh Corporation wanted share in all the assets of the corporation in the ratio of 52:48, the Telangana corporation officials argue that all most all the properties in corporation were existing during the period of Nizams. The officials from Telangana said if at all there is any headquarter assets then it should be only the Bus Bhavan.

As per the APSRTC’s argument, there are 14 headquarter assets and those are old central office land and new buses parking place, RTC Kala Bhavan and Kalyana Mandapam, land belonging to Transport Academy and hostel, RTC Chairman Building, Buildings of three RTC officers at Mettuguda, the small sized vehicle maintenance depot adjacent to Musheerabad-2 depot, Musheerabad dispensary, Kachiguda quarters land, Guest House in Hyderguda, quarters in Chilkalguda and Wind power project established in Ramagiri in Anantapur district, Bus Bhavan, Tarnaka hospital and Bus Body Building Unit at Miyapur.

According to TSRTC officials the issue was once raised in the meeting of both the Corporations with the Union Home Joint Secretary. When the Union Home Joint Secretary Dileep Kumar sought the details of the headquarter assets, the Telangana corporation explained only Bus Bhavan could fall under that category. The officials also told the Joint Secretary they were ready to share 52 per cent in monetary form with the Andhra Pradesh on the Bus Bhavan. 

The officials further informed that as per the Section 52 of the AP Reorganisation Act, the assets locally situated in the State belong to the same State and as per the ‘headquarter’ terminology of home department, only Bus Bhavan falls under the category.

TSRTC MD G V Ramana Rao told Hans India that the headquarter issue remains unresolved. He said, “We have clearly said that only Bus Bhavan can be treated as headquarter assets and no other property. The properties of RTC are in the existence since the period of Nizam. We have informed about our stand to the Central Home Ministry,” Ramana Rao said. The MD said the issue must be resolved by the Centre.