A tough ride for TSRTC

As per info released in August, the extent of losses was a staggering ₹ 2,600 crore

It has been a rough ride this year for the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). The COVID – 19 pandemic, rising costs of diesel, spare parts and maintenance expenses, cast a shadow on the transport juggernaut, which despite such hurdles, continues to cater to the travel requirements of lakhs of people in the State.

The extent of losses was a staggering ₹ 2,600 crore, the TSRTC informed the media in August. This was due to a crushing combination of factors which included the TSRTC’s fleet coming to a grinding halt during the COVID – 19 lockdown, a constant increase in fuel prices by around 27%, maintenance cost, and interest payments on loans. To ameliorate the situation, a loan of ₹ 1,000 crore was sanctioned.

But this alone would not solve the problem. Officials of the transport juggernaut, including Managing Director V C Sajjanar, got into a huddle and began brainstorming on how the corporation’s dipping fortunes could be turned around. Discussions entailed a host of ideas and proposals, the most notable of which were monetising the TSRTC’s large land bank, and removing around 500 buses from the fleet.