RTC to focus on building institutions

Highlights

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is making serious efforts to rebuild important organisations in the new

- Training academy coming up at Gannavaram
- RTC hospital building is being constructed at Vidyadharapuram in Vja
- Rs 80 cr allocated for development works during 2016-17

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is making serious efforts to rebuild important organisations in the new State of Andhra Pradesh as it has lost many crucial institutions to Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC).

The RTC is spending around Rs 80 crore in the current financial year on development works across the State and improving major bus stations at a cost of Rs 33 crore. Besides, the corporation is creating 1.37 lakh sq ft of commercial space at New RTC House (Pandit Nehru Bus Station), which will earn about Rs 45 lakh revenue per annum in the form of rentals. The State-owned Corporation has been facing many problems for the last two years as important institutions, including hospitals, workshops, training academy and administration building (Bus Bhavan) are located in Hyderabad.

It may take a long time for resolution of disputes between APSRTC and TSRTC over the division of important assets, which are included in the Schedule-IX of Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act-2014.

Meanwhile, authorities of APSRTC think that it is better to rebuild its own institutions in Vijayawada city and improve bus stands across the State which were neglected in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. In this backdrop, the RTC management has been developing the Pandit Nehru Bus Station to meet the administration and commercial needs. According to sources, RTC is building a hospital in Vidyadharapuram in the city at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Employees are making contribution from their salaries for construction of the building. Infrastructural facilities will be improved at RTC dispensaries at different bus stations. The corporation is constructing a training academy at Gannavaram village near Vijayawada city. It is also making efforts to set up a workshop in the place of Miyapur workshop in Hyderabad, which has a major role in daily operation of APSRTC buses.

On other hand, the corporation set its eye on creating income sources as it is facing financial crunch after State bifurcation. The RTC is creating commercial space of 1.37 lakh sq ft in the RTC House. It would be allocated to 11 government offices, including SERP and offices for Skill Development Corporation, Vigilance and Enforcement Department, Transport Commissioner and the Anti Corruption Bureau and some other offices. Chief Engineer (Civil) of APSRTC V Subrahmanya Sastry said that the RTC would get at least Rs 30 per sq ft as rent for the commercial space and the total revenue would be around Rs 45 lakh per annum.

“The RTC will provide air conditioners, generator backup facility, provide panelling and some other facilities for the offices apart from providing furniture,” he said.

K Varaprasada Rao

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