New buses to be operated across the state l Possible new routes in focus l Mahalakshmi scheme, offering free travel, has benefited 83.42 crore women, saving Rs 2,840.71 crore for passengers.
Mahalakshmi scheme is currently applicable to 7,292 buses in Telangana.
TGSRTC loans total Rs 6,322 crore, including those from banks and outstanding dues towards employee provident funds
CM orders a study on reducing high interest rates and restructuring loans to gradually reduce TSRTC’s debt burden.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed the officials concerned to make preparations for the purchase of new buses to be operated across the state in line with the growing needs of the public. He suggested that the increased demand and possible new routes be taken into consideration for this purpose.
Revanth Reddy conducted a review on the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The Chief Minister made enquiries about the utility of the Mahalakshmi scheme, which offers free travel for women. He expressed satisfaction with the scheme, noting that 83.42 crore women had availed of free travel so far, thus saving for them Rs. 2,840.71 crore, according to Minister for Transport Ponnam Prabhakar. He mentioned that the Mahalakshmi scheme was applicable to 7,292 buses. After the introduction of the Mahalakshmi scheme, the number of women traveling from various districts to hospitals in Hyderabad had increased. Officials presented these statistics to the Chief Minister through a PowerPoint presentation, which included reports published in newspapers. The officials also informed that TSRTC had loans amounting to Rs. 6,322 crore, including loans from various banks, withdrawals from employee provident fund accounts, and dues to retired employees. The Chief Minister ordered a study on reducing the high interest rates on loans taken from banks and restructuring of the loans. He emphasized the need to gradually reduce the corporation’s debt burden. The officials also reported that the Mahalakshmi scheme had increased the occupancy rate, and along with government reimbursement, the corporation was moving towards profitability.
The review was attended by Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari, Principal Secretaries to the Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Reddy and Shahnawaz Qasim, Special Chief Secretary for Transport Vikas Raj, TSRTC Managing Director Sajjanar, and other officials.
