Telangana to revise autorickshaw fares for first time since 2012

The Telangana government will soon decide on revising autorickshaw fares, which have remained unchanged since 2012, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced.

Speaking at Bus Bhavan, Prabhakar said a welfare board for autorickshaw workers would be established shortly. The government will also provide ₹1.5 lakh assistance for retrofitting petrol and diesel autorickshaws in Hyderabad, he added.

TGSRTC expansion and ridership gains

The minister said 347.36 crore women had travelled free on buses under the Mahalakshmi scheme so far, resulting in estimated savings of ₹12,167 crore for them.

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation has received 2,932 new buses, including 1,024 electric buses already on the roads. An additional 2,200 electric buses will be introduced in the Greater Hyderabad Zone, Prabhakar said. The corporation is now operating services on 370 new routes in the city and expanding connectivity to areas without bus services.

Occupancy rates have climbed from 67% to 89%, he noted.

Recruitment and employee benefits

Notifications have been issued for recruitment to 4,538 posts, while recruitment for 1,000 driver and 743 worker posts has been completed. The government has also approved the recruitment of 1,500 conductors, the minister said.

Union elections will be conducted, after which the process relating to the merger of RTC employees will be completed, he added. The government has provided RTC workers two pay revision commissions and five dearness allowances, with no DA arrears pending.

Bike taxi regulation

Prabhakar said proposals are being examined to bring bike taxis under a regulatory framework through yellow number plates.

Source: The Hindu