APSRTC likely to get electric buses soon
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The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is mulling the thought of introducing electric buses on some routes so as to save on exorbitant gas prices.
According to data, with the surge in gas prices, the APSRTC is searching for different choices to carry down operational prices. Authorities really feel that it’s ‘feasible to run’ the electric buses given the diesel prices. The APSRTC is likely to introduce round 150 electric buses on routes throughout the State.
The transfer assumes significance within the wake of the federal government’s resolution in November final yr to drop its plans of procuring 350 electric buses as the prices had been understanding to be too excessive. In the identical month, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) requested the federal government to introduce the electric buses in Tirumala to preserve the holy hills as a ‘zero carbon emission zone’.
When contacted, APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director (VC&MD) R.P. Thakur has confirmed that the APSRTC has despatched a proposal to the federal government just lately and {that a} resolution is awaited. In view of rising gas prices, the APSRTC is inspecting all choices comparable to bio-diesel, CNG and electric buses.
“It is feasible to ply electric buses between Tirupati and Tirumala,” he mentioned.
A litre of diesel used to price Rs. 67 in March 2020. Now, it has crossed Rs. 82 per litre. The RTC has to shell out about Rs.2100 crore (as per 2019) on diesel alone. The fares haven’t been revised since then. The hole between income and expenditure was widening due to elements together with diesel, salaries, and so forth. The scenario has worsened due to the Covid. Consequently, the RTC was availing financial institution loans to handle the present. The worker liabilities, together with PF, gratuity and so forth., and loans stand at Rs. 6,000 crore, he factors out.
Mr. Thakur mentioned that the APSRTC was taking many steps to make the Corporation worthwhile. A complete revamp of the cargo providers, totally working buses in Telangana State, 10% concession in AC bus fare to early birds (48 hours superior reservation), early darshan at Tirumala, AC buses between Anantapur and Hyderabad, growing punctuality—each arrival and departure, and reintroducing rent buses had been a few of the measures. The APSRTC plans to introduce end-to-end cargo providers and targets a income of ₹300 crore as in opposition to the prevailing ₹100 crore, he mentioned.
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