RTC fare hike: Will Telangana govt follow Karnataka?

Given the increasing fuel prices and operational costs, Telangana government would also increase the fares, says BRS

HYDERABAD: The repercussions of Karnataka cabinet’s decision to increase RTC bus fare hike by 15 percent are already being felt in Telangana with many fearing that the Congress government here may also follow suit. The Karnataka cabinet’s decision will come into force from January 5. It is expected to generate additional revenue of Rs 7.84 crore per day for the cash-starved four-State operated road transport corporations.

The decision has already triggered verbal duels between the BJP and Congress leaders. The BJP blamed the Congress government’s free bus travel scheme for women for the financial crisis in the four corporations, besides imposing additional burden on the travellers.

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Considering the fact that Telangana government is also implementing the free bus travel scheme for women in the State many are apprehensive that RTC fares could be increased here as well.

There was no option left for the Congress government but to follow its counterpart in Karnataka. Given the increasing fuel prices and operational costs, Telangana government would also increase the fares, charged BRS Greater Hyderabad in charge Dasoju Sravan.

The State government has failed to manage the economy effectively. Investments were getting affected and things had come to a standstill due to poor administration, he slammed, stressing that the corporation should be made self-resilient.

With many women boarding RTC buses (Express and Palle Velugu), men are complaining that they do not get seats despite paying the fares.

On the contrary, the Congress government has been claiming that the free bus travel scheme for women had in fact aided in increasing the seat occupancy ratio in RTC buses.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had said ever since the scheme was launched in December 2023, over 84 crore women had travelled in RTC buses. The scheme had helped the women to save Rs 2,840.71 crore, he had announced.

During a meeting in September, the RTC officials had informed the Chief Minister that due to utilization of funds from different banks, employees funds and pending dues to be paid to retired employees, the debts had accumulated to the tune of Rs 6,332 crore.

This apart, the State government has been claiming that the expenditure incurred due to implementation of free bus travel for women was being paid to the corporation regularly.

Himachal government faces criticism over power supply scheme

Like the Congress government in Karnataka, its counterpart in Himachal Pradesh is also facing severe criticism over its power supply scheme. Before the Assembly elections, the Congress had promised to extend 300 units free power supply to consumers, irrespective of category.

However, it was now appealing to the consumers to surrender 125 units of free power voluntarily. This has not gone well with the people and opposition parties are coming down heavily on the Congress government.

Leader of Opposition Jai Kumar Thakur had demanded that Sukhvinder Singh Sikku should step down for failing to fulfill promises made to the people.

He asked as to why the Congress government was not able to implement its decision to withdraw power subsidy for income tax payers. It was absurd that the Congress government was asking people to surrender the subsidy voluntarily, he said according to reports.