VISAKHAPATNAM: Buoyed by increase in revenue and growing passenger response, the APSRTC Visakhapatnam Urban division is planning measures to further exploit the potential in the city.

With the city expanding and real estate prices soaring, the commuting needs are growing rapidly. The RTC's city buses are the lifeline transporting about 3.8 lakh passengers every day.

The Urban division has netted Rs. 3.48 crores up to February 20 this year registering an increase of Rs. 48 lakhs over the earnings during the corresponding period in the previous year, according to M. Trinath Babu, Divisional Manager (Urban) of the RTC.

Commuters are encouraging RTC and and he is confident that the response will further improve if better services are provided.

To further tap the potential, the Urban division has sent proposals to the RTC head office to provide 62 more buses.

Vegam popular

Realising that its Vegam service is proving popular, more buses have been introduced particularly to Gajuwaka area where the demand is high.

The No. 99 buses have been doubled from 5 to 10. Two more buses have been introduced on the No. 400 route from Maddilapalem to Gajuwaka.

Though no additional buses are available, buses from Rythu Bazars have been withdrawn on the basis of performance. Similarly, two Vegam buses have been introduced on the No. 28 route via Tatichetlapalem.

Night bus for Gajuwaka

To cater to passenger needs to Gajuwaka and curb plying of private vehicles, RTC has readied plans to ply its buses to Gajuwaka after 10 p.m.

Classes to staff

To sensitise staff and make them more courteous, a 45-day programme called "Mana chetilo mana bhavitha" (Future is in our hands) has been launched. Everyday 60 crew members -- 30 drivers and 30 conductors -- are covered in the programme aimed at all the 3,000 staff.

The crewmembers are being told to be passenger-friendly and treat pass-holders, providers of ready money, well. Better service will bring them back to buses.

He also wants to promote RTC passes to students which come at about one-third the fee charged for school buses for a three-month period and says, if necessary, more buses will be introduced.

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