Free Bus in AP.. అది పల్లె వెలుగు లోనే

[Hitman]

 

[andhra_jp]

Uphill task ahead for government gearing up to implement free bus travel scheme for women

APSRTC may have to allocate 7,930 buses from its fleet for the free bus travel, induct 2,045 additional buses and recruit 11,479 additional staff, including 5,016 drivers, 5016 conductors and 1,447 maintenance staff

The TDP-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to launch the the much-awaited ‘free bus travel’ scheme for women across the State on Independence Day. However, the initiative, which aims at improving women’s mobility, comes with substantial financial implications for the State exchequer.

The task of doing the spadework for the successful launch of the scheme awaits the government. Augmentation and strengthening of the existing fleet of buses in the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) besides recruiting additional staff is paramount for implementing the scheme.

 

According to a preliminary estimates prepared by the State-run public transport organisation, the Corporation, which is already struggling with shortage of funds, will have to take an additional monthly burden of ₹265 crore (₹3,182 crore annually) if the new facility is introduced on Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, Express, Metro Express and City Ordinary buses.

Under this scheme, the APSRTC may have to allocate 7,930 buses from its fleet for the free bus travel, besides requiring 2,045 additional buses and 11,479 additional staff, including 5,016 drivers, 5016 conductors and 1,447 maintenance staff. The number of women travellers daily is expected to go up from the existing 16.11 lakh to 26.95 lakh, an increase of 10.84 lakh if the proposal comes into effect.

Should the Corporation chooses to have the free travel facility only on Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu and City Ordinary buses, it would cost the Corporation an additional ₹177 crore a month, running into an annual expenditure of ₹2,122 crore. In this scenario, the officials will have to deploy 6,136 buses, induct 1,684 additional buses and recruit 4,129 drivers, 4,129 conductors and 1,191 maintenance staff. In this case, the existing number of women travellers may go up from 14.30 lakh to 23.28 lakh, an increase of 8.89 lakh.

“We are looking at every aspect of the initiative to ensure that the launch and the subsequent implementation is smooth and efficient,” Minister for Transport M. Ramprasad told The Hindu on Sunday.

Pointing out that a delegation of Ministers and officials, led by him, had travelled in the neighbouring states that are already implementing the scheme, he said the team members had observed certain aspects like an increase in traffic to pilgrim centres, a huge demand for operating bus services to the villages, which either did not have bus connection or bus services were discontinued, and the need to construct additional toilets for women in bus stations due to the swell in the crowd.

Besides Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the south, Delhi and Punjab governments also permit women to travel for free on their respective State-run buses. In Telangana, the women travellers opting for the State transport corporation buses constituted 40%, but the number rose to 63 % (an increase by 23 %) after implementation of the ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme, Karnataka saw women commuters increase from 40% to 55% under its ‘Shakti” scheme, while in Tamil Nadu, the number of women travelling on that State RTC buses increased from 37% to 69% under its “Vidiyal Payanam” scheme

[andhra_jp]

Autorickshaw, taxi drivers express fear over impact of APSRTC free bus ride scheme for women

We are already hit by online transport apps, including the two-wheelers, which pick up customers from their home and the new scheme will spoil many lives, says a taxi driver from Gudivada

Autorickshaw and taxi drivers fear that the free bus travel scheme for women introduced by the State government will hit them financially.

“Lakhs of autorickshaw and taxi drivers have been earning their livelihood by operating their vehicles for the past several years in Andhra Pradesh. The free bus travel for women in APSRTC will cause a dent in our income,” the drivers said.

With Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announcing the launch of the free bus travel scheme for women in APSRTC buses from August 15, the taxi and autorickshaw owners have now expressed fear over the impact of the scheme.

“More than five lakh auto rickshaws, taxis and cabs are providing transportation to the public in the State. The scheme will affect the livelihood of lakhs of families,” the auto rickshaw owners said.

The drivers were seen discussing on the proposed free ride for women in APSRTC buses, at the autorickshaw and taxi stands at various centres, on Sunday. “Autorickshaw drivers will feel the pinch of the scheme. Free travel for women in the government-run buses will have an adverse effect on private transport system in both rural and urban areas,” said Krishna, an auto driver from Vijayawada.

“We have to wait at the bus and railway stations throughout the day to earn a small amount. Some auto drivers eke out a living by dropping children at schools. The free bus ride for women in public transport will dent the income of many drivers,” said Ramana, a driver from Krishna district.

“We are already hit by online transport apps, including the two-wheelers, which pick up the customers from their home. Now, the new scheme will spoil many lives,” said Raju, a taxi driver from Gudivada.

Once the free ride for women in APSRTC buses is launched, women and girl students will prefer only public transport and it will be difficult to feed our families, said Mahesh, a car driver in Eluru.

[karna11]

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