RTC scraps ‘Vajra’ buses

Algorithms failed as commuters did not patronise

● TSRTC UNION is blaming the management for going ahead with the decision.

Vajra AC buses, which were introduced by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in May 2017, will soon be a thing of the past.

The mini bus service was introduced to make it convenient for the passengers to be picked from their home or pick-up points and reach bus depots without hassle.

The latest is that these buses are to be scrapped.

The TSRTC Union is blaming the management for going ahead with the decision despite employees stating that the service would not be feasible.

TSRTC bought 86 such 21-seater air-conditioned mini buses, spending `40 crore. Initially, there was a provision for online booking by an app and making it simpler for the driver to locate the passenger. All these algorithms failed as commuters did not patronise the service for varied reasons, thereby failing to generate the expected revenues. In fact, the maintenance became burdensome for the corporation.

Telangana RTC Mazdoor Union general secretary M. Thomas Reddy said “Vajra buses, which were not required at that point in time, were bought only for the sake of commissions that some individuals in the organisation pocketed. AC facilities were not provided by the manufacturer. Extra load affected the engines efficacy, impacting the engine’s pickup and creating unnecessary vibrations,” Thomas alleged.

He also said “most of the employees in the technical department opposed bringing of these buses, when their opinion was taken. When RTC is functioning in losses these types of decisions will make the corporation more sick.”