Revision of auto fares being reviewed

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar indicated that the government would decide soon on the long-standing demand for revising auto fares, which have remained unchanged since 2012. At a press conference in Bus Bhavan, Prabhakar highlighted various developments within the Transport department and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC).

He announced the establishment of a welfare board for autorickshaw workers and pledged ₹1.5 lakh assistance for retrofitting petrol and diesel autorickshaws in Hyderabad. Regarding the TGSRTC, he emphasized that 347.36 crore women had traveled for free on buses through the Mahalakshmi scheme, saving an estimated ₹12,167 crore for them.

Prabhakar reported that the state road transport undertaking had acquired 2,932 new buses, including 1,024 electric buses already on the roads, with a further 2,200 electric buses planned. The corporation was expanding services to 370 new routes and increasing occupancy from 67% to 89%. Recruitment notifications were issued for 4,538 positions, with 1,000 driver and 743 worker posts completed.

The government also approved recruitment for 1,500 conductors, with union elections to follow the merger of RTC employees. The government provided two Provident Receipt Certificates (PRCs) and five Dearness Allowances (DAs) to RTC workers, with no DA arrears pending. Prabhakar suggested that bike taxis be regulated under a framework using yellow number plates.