Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has underlined the state government’s push to modernise the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) to align with the changing times, ensuring it remains a lifeline for the common man.
Speaking at a gathering in Suryapet on Monday, where he inaugurated 45 electric buses at the local bus depot, Bhatti said that the RTC, a key public asset, must adapt to meet modern needs. He insisted that the Congress government is determined to revamp state-run services like the RTC, turning them into models of efficiency and sustainability.
Recalling the tough times faced by RTC, Bhatti pointed out that the corporation, created to serve the people, had long been mired in losses, prompting previous governments to debate its very survival. “It was the people’s government that kept RTC afloat,” he remarked, praising Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar for championing reforms that prioritise the public good.
He noted that the RTC’s transformation is gathering pace, driven by lessons from global best practices. The rollout of 79 battery-powered buses to the Suryapet depot of which 45 hit the roads on Monday is a milestone, he said, adding that similar initiatives will extend to other parts of the state.
In Hyderabad, efforts to tackle urban pollution have seen the government deploy 2,800 battery buses within the Outer Ring Road, Bhatti revealed. He also highlighted the Mahalakshmi Scheme, which offers free bus travel to women across Telangana, enabling them to travel anywhere within the state without financial barriers.
Since the scheme’s launch, RTC has issued a staggering 182 crore zero-fare tickets, with the government compensating the corporation to the tune of ₹6,088 crore, Bhatti disclosed. He credited this support with revitalising RTC’s fortunes at a time when many feared for its future.
“Thanks to the Mahalakshmi Scheme, RTC buses are running at full capacity. Had the government not stepped in to shoulder the financial burden, RTC would have been in dire straits,” he said.
The event also saw the presence of Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy, MLAs Padmavathi Reddy and Mandula Samel, MLC Shankar Nayak, and Tourism Corporation Chairman Patel Ramesh Reddy, among other leaders.
సూర్యాపేట డిపోకు మంజూరైన 79 బస్సుల్లో భాగంగా ఈ రోజు 45 ఎలక్ట్రిక్ బస్సులను మంత్రి @Ponnam_INC గారితో కలిసి ప్రారంభించడం జరిగింది.
• మారిన అవసరాలకు అనుగుణంగా RTCను ఆధునికీకరిస్తున్నాం..
• మహిళలకు ఉచిత బస్సు ప్రయాణం RTCను నిలబెట్టింది..
• గత ప్రభుత్వాలు RTCను వదిలించుకోవాలని… pic.twitter.com/k7wAOptpwT— Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu (@Bhatti_Mallu) June 9, 2025