The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), one of the major State-owned corporations operating the transport network, has drawn up a comprehensive programme aimed at regaining the lost revenue due to 27-day strike in support of the ongoing agitation for Statehood of Telangana.
The corporation is estimated to have lost about Rs 211.44 crore due to the agitation in the Telangana region alone as a part of Sakala Janula Samme. It could not operate about 980.07 lakh kilometres besides suffering a loss of 22.74 crore passengers and wastage of 2.71 lakh vehicle days.
Now that the strike has been called off, the corporation is taking up a series of initiatives to recoup the losses by operating more and revenue yielding kilometres in the remaining part of the current financial year (about 165 days).
According to the action plan, the thrust now is on increasing the occupancy level by additional one per cent, which is expected to yield about Rs 38 crore more for the corporation per month. This move, if achieved will still leave a short fall of Rs 95 crore for the financial year and 2.95 lakh kilometres per day to be recouped in the remaining 165 days.
According to a statement from APSRTC, the regional managers will initiate action for operating 2000 additional kilometres extra per day to recoup the loss of earnings.
Allowances
In a Government order referred to as STAR — Strategic Tools for Augmentation of Revenues, the corporation has decided to pay allowance to drivers and conductors involved in extra operation.
As a part of the drive, A Save APSRTC fortnight would be observed from November 1-15 across all depots of the corporation. It also plans to hold gate meetings to bring about attitudinal change among staff.