Hyderabad: The cash-strapped Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), which was on track to meet its revenue target for the just-concluded financial year, is once again going through difficult days with the Covid-19 pandemic hitting city operations again.
With the peak in Covid-19 cases across the city, the Greater Hyderabad Zone (GHZ) of the RTC is witnessing a decline in passenger occupancy and is expected to decline even further in the coming days. In the few weeks, the occupancy rate dropped sharply below 50 percent. The closure of educational institutions also hit the business with the daily income falling in the GHZ by 1 million.
According to officials, although the RTC performed well between November and mid-March after the resumption of services, revenue has been declining recently, all due to the increase in Covid-19 incidents. V Venkateshwarlu, executive director (GHZ), said the revenue, which is about 2.7 million a day, has dropped to 1.7 million in the last few days.
Currently, the RTC operates 100 percent city services with a fleet of 2,800 buses, which includes 2,400 buses by RTC and 400 rental staff.
‘We have not received any guidelines from the state government to reduce the operations. We disinfect buses regularly and keep them clean and safe, ”he said.
Officials said there is a certain fear among the public to travel by public transport given the pandemic. However, it was safe to travel in the RTC with face masks and frequently disinfecting hands, they say.
The daily income of RTC before Covid-19 hit was about 3.2 million. The city services resumed on September 25 after being confined to depots for six months.
Maharashtra services suspended
Meanwhile, the TSRTC buses to some parts of Maharashtra have been suspended with the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in that State. “We have temporarily suspended buses to Nanded, Khilwat, Dharmabad and Himayat Nagar,” said Vijaya Bhasker, regional manager (Adilabad).
In addition, passenger occupancy has been reduced in buses traveling to Nagpur. ‘We maintain physical distance and ensure that everyone Covid-19 protocols are followed without delay, ”he added.
Source: Telangana Today