CM gives nod to RTC to buy 6,000 new buses

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has agreed to the proposal of the Andhra Pradesh Road State Transport Corporation (APSRTC) to purchase 6,000 new buses and sanctioned Rs 200 crore for the purpose.Of the Rs 200 crore, Rs 100 crore has already been released. The new buses will replace the old buses and will augment district and city services.  The chief minister has rejected the demand of the opposition to roll back RTC fares stating that the diesel prices have been increased thrice in the recent past, the CMO sources said and added that the RTC consumes 60 crore litres of high speed diesel (HSD) oil every year.  The chief minister has instructed the APSRTC to increase its occupancy rate by maintaining time schedule and by improving service facilities to augment its earnings. He said the recent hike will not burden the common man and the students as there is no hike in ordinary and short distance services and 40 percent of the commuters come under this category.