URAVAKONDA TRUE TIMES INDIA
The financial stability of the Uravakonda RTC depot is rapidly deteriorating due to a combination of the state government’s 'Nari Shakti' free bus travel scheme for women and the rampant rise of unauthorized private operators. The depot is reportedly facing a staggering daily loss of approximately 1,08,000.
Mounting Financial Losses
The influx of private vehicles has created a severe dent in the RTC's earnings, leading to substantial cumulative losses:
Monthly Loss: 32,40,000
Annual Loss: 3,88,80,000
Unchecked Private Competition
Despite being the constituency of the State Finance Minister, critics argue that no significant action has been taken to curb this exploitation. Every day, approximately 54 private vehicles ferry passengers to Anantapur, charging a flat rate of 100. These operators strategically park near the RTC depot to intercept and attract passengers away from state-run buses.
Political Patronage and Local Conflicts
Investigations reveal a complex web of interests behind the private transport boom:
Political Involvement: Workers from both the ruling and opposition parties are allegedly operating these vehicles, with opposition members reportedly gaining significant benefits.
Regional Dominance: A majority of these operators hail from Jallipalli village in the Kudair Mandal.
Internal Strife: A power struggle between "local" and "non-local" operators has led to frequent confrontations and disputes.
Unlikely Investors: Surprisingly, even software engineers are reportedly bringing in private vehicles to participate in this lucrative but unregulated market.
Safety and Regulatory Concerns
The situation has raised serious safety and legal alarms:
Lack of Licenses: Many drivers reportedly operate without valid licenses, making it nearly impossible to claim insurance in the event of an accident.
Toll Evasion: Reports suggest some operators from Jallipalli village use intimidation to avoid paying toll fees.
Administrative Inertia: Local residents have criticized the Depot Manager (DM) for failing to protect RTC revenue, describing the administration's response as indifferent. Furthermore, the RTC, Transport, and Police departments appear to be working in isolation, failing to coordinate a crackdown.
Government Indifference
Local transport operators who pay thousands in road taxes claim they are struggling to survive while unregulated outsiders reap the profits. When these grievances were brought to the attention of the Finance Minister, he reportedly failed to provide a concrete solution or take action to regulate non-local operators.
Analysts warn that if the growth of unauthorized private vehicles is not checked immediately, the Uravakonda RTC depot faces the very real threat of permanent closure.
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