Gulte Telugu news
“Travel safely on the RTC bus” was once the reassuring slogan, but nowadays, it’s rare for a day to pass without these buses getting involved in accidents. The heart-wrenching CCTV footage of the tragic incident at the Vijayawada bus stand on a recent Monday left many in tears. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia each to the kin of those killed in bus accident. These daily accidents involving RTC buses have become all too common, and they only make headlines when there’s a loss of life.
For a long time, people believed that RTC was a safe mode of travel, and there were good reasons for this belief. The buses were regularly inspected and deemed fit for service, with a strong emphasis on safety. However, those days seem to be a thing of the past. RTC has now been merged with the government, leading to the amalgamation of employees. What was once a well-managed corporation is now entangled with government bureaucracy. While the government enjoys a share of the revenue, the much-needed investment in bus maintenance and replacement is lacking.
The existing bus fleet is showing signs of wear and tear, and some buses have been in service for an extensive period, like the one involved in the Vijayawada accident, which had covered ten lakh kilometers. It’s clear that proper servicing and maintenance are not being prioritized.
The problems escalated when RTC merged with the government. Employees have been hit hard, with delayed salaries and halted allowances, leaving them in a state of financial uncertainty. RTC’s assets are being sold off, further deteriorating the situation. Ultimately, it’s the passengers who are left in a precarious situation as RTC struggles to operate effectively, mirroring the challenges faced by the government in managing this once-reliable transportation service.
