Interview: Revenue up 50% in 2 years. With government chipping in, better days ahead; says TSRTC MD Sajjanar

As recently as 12 August, the corporation launched a bus-tracking app — TSRTC Gamyam — to ensure smooth and safe travel. The app has provisions to flag issues related to women’s safety, health emergencies, and accidents.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Legislative Assembly on 6 August passed the TSRTC (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill of 2023 after high drama.

In an interview with South First, TSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director VC Sajjanar explained the RTC’s immediate concerns and the shift to e-buses, among other things, and gave updates on its initiatives, revenues, and what more was required to strengthen it.

Q. Now that the TSRTC Absorption Bill has been passed by the Telangana Assembly, what are some of the immediate concerns of the corporation?

A. Our main agenda was the merger. As soon as I joined in 2021, my priority was to dispense salaries on the first of every month. Otherwise, I would be worried and burdened on the last week of every month on how to get the salary amount for employees.

The entire salary component will be borne by the government now. I will not be burdened with the subject. The government will definitely pay them regularly and that security will be there for our drivers and conductors.

The employees will also be recognised as government servants and there will definitely be an increase in the salary. They will also be eligible for arrears.

Q. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan recommended that the ownership of the lands, assets, and properties of the TSRTC should be vested with the corporation itself for its sole and exclusive use, even after the absorption of the RTC employees as government employees. 

A. Yes, the ownership of the lands, assets, and properties will remain with the TSRTC. It was made clear in the Assembly as well.

Q. Several electric buses are being launched in Hyderabad. By when can Hyderabad citizens expect all the buses on the roads to go electric?

A. Over the months, electric buses have come in batches, and will continue to do so. We plan to induct around 1,500 buses in total.

So, we will be getting 300 electric buses under the FAME scheme. We will be getting some more under the NEBP scheme, and we have floated our own tender for 550 vehicles — 50 AC and 500 Non-AC buses.

All of them could not be supplied together due to technical issues. But I think they will be coming in the next 18 to 24 months. We have plans to bring the entire city under the coverage of electrical vehicles by 2025.

But there are obstacles, such as the technical problems with batteries and the production. We are on target, but things may get delayed.

Q. What are the advantages of electric buses?

A. Diesel prices have significantly increased in the past two years, so the shift from diesel to electric will help us reduce expenditure.

Olectra electric buses ordered by the TSRTC. (Supplied)

The RTC suffered losses during the two years and even before that due to the diesel prices increase, the Covid-19 pandemic, and employees’ strikes.

With thousands of buses running on diesel right now in Hyderabad, including our older fleet of buses, the electric buses will also have a great impact on the climate.

Regarding the charging stations for electric buses, we have already started building them in Suryapet and Hyderabad.

We have also applied to power discoms for approval to build more of them in other districts.

Also read: KCR explains: Why TSRTC employees were taken into Telangana govt 

Q. You mentioned in March that the occupancy was around 69-70 percent. You said the goal was to take it to 75 percent. What is the situation now?

A. It is hovering around 70 percent. Our goal is still to take to 75 percent. For that, we are trying out different initiatives. For example, we have started this T-9 30 and 60 tickets in office areas. In Hyderabad, TAYL (Travel As You Like) tickets have also been reduced.

We have increased our routes and added new fleets of buses. All these initiatives will definitely add to the occupancy ratio.

Q. What is the idea behind launching the bus-tracking app TSRTC Gamyam?

A. It is to facilitate smooth and safe travel. The app provides bus timings and the location of the nearest bus stop, among other information, so that the passengers can plan their travel accordingly.

The unique “Flag a Bus” feature allows the passenger to board a bus from a location of their choice. It is available only between 7 pm and 6 am.

On selecting the option, the phone screen lights up with a fluorescent colour. On waving the phone at the bus, the fluorescent light catches the driver’s attention, and he stops the bus.

The SOS feature allows passengers to report accidents, harassment (including sexual harassment), and health emergencies.

Q. The TSRTC plans to introduce round-the-clock bus services between Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Why?

A. Yes, that is true. It is because that route is a big source of revenue for us. So, we thought of strengthening the connectivity on this route. We will do that for other routes too, especially Vijayawada.

Q. How has the introduction of social media applications impacted the TSRTC’s functioning?

A. Social media is a game-changer for any organisation that deals with customers. We have a massive scale here of around 45 lakh people to cater to.

We use social media to stay in touch with the customers, even though we have a very good feedback system based on our own drivers and staff.

But getting feedback from customers or passengers is different. We thank all our esteemed customers who have been telling us about various issues and helped us rectify and modify our methods.

Some of the initiatives we brought are because of their requests on social media.

Also read: Telangana passes bill to absorb TSRTC employees into govt service

Q. Why did the RTC compile the health profile of its workers as part of a month-long ‘Grand Health Challenge’ drive last year?

A. Our staff work in difficult conditions. They travel to different places. Drivers and conductors even go into other states. That affects their health, and their lifestyle also changes because they travel for long hours.

Launch of the Gamyam app. (Supplied)

I surmised that the first thing we should do was to set up our own hospital and have in-house health facilities. We had it earlier, but it was not up to the mark. So we set up a hospital for RTC staff in Taranaka.

We modernised it and initially performed 17 health tests after engaging a private company. Now we want to take it further to assess their behaviour and driving skills among other things. The health profile has given us a different dimension.

Profiling the health of our staff helps us in identifying the people who are on the verge of a health crisis. They were not aware of their health issues.

We have also appointed health volunteers in each depot across districts. They are our employees, and have a passion for health.

Q. How is the TSRTC looking to ensure the safety of women passengers? 

A. We started running girls’ and women’s special buses on routes where they had a bigger footprint.

Regarding the seating arrangements, we have reserved seats for women, and told our conductors that they should educate people that only one person should travel on a single seat.

We are also making ensure that there are no advertisements on the bus as there used to be obscene content earlier, which used to make people — especially women — uncomfortable. Some parents and women passengers complained about this.

Q. How do you see the free rides being given to women at places such as Delhi and Karnataka?

A. I think that it is good in some ways. However, we, too, issue 12-13 lakh bus passes, which passengers use to avail cheaper tickets.

During launch of T9-30 ticket. (Supplied)

Otherwise, people who travel on a daily basis to their places of work can’t find a seat. And that’s what happened in other places.

However, we need constant government support. First of all, we have been suffering because of the Covid-19 crisis in the absence of increased HR expenditure. So, the government can have a time-bound scheme, like, say, releasing money for this head incurred by us by the 15th of every month.

Otherwise, what happens is that the maintenance of the buses is affected. Then, people start complaining about the maintenance.

Meanwhile, our drivers and conductors are under a lot of stress because of the incidents where they were assaulted or were not allowed to discharge their duties. I think a proper mechanism is required to tackle the situation.

There can also be a system where one can travel only so many times in a day on a single ticket or purchase.

Q. The government announced the common mobility card. When can it be expected?

A. The process to introduce it is underway. Hopefully, it will happen soon. It will be for all sections and people will be able to make travel payments through this common card.

Also read: TSRTC Bill awaits Governor’s nod as she seeks more clarifications

Q. Is there any plan for increasing Pushpak e-buses to and from the airport?

A. A lot of people were travelling, and our ridership was almost 100 percent. Ridership in Pushpak buses has overwhelmingly increased in the past year.

We will be adding another 20 buses to the already existing 40. We will also introduce more routes because the number of regular travellers has increased. Overall, we are also making a little bit of profit from them now.

Q. What is the idea behind appointing 2,000 village bus officers?

A. Over time, people moved away from public transport because of the growth of private transport companies.

So, we felt a need to reconnect with the public. The village bus officers — our employees — have been allotted three-four villages to encourage people to use RTC buses. They also determine the transport requirements of the citizens.

We have buses on contracts as well, which people can hire for their own purposes. People often don’t know how to book them, so these officers assist them.

Q. Any update on the iRaste (Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through Technology & Engineering) mobile app, developed by IIIT Hyderabad for advanced road safety?

A. We have started it on a pilot basis and are getting feedback on it. We will analyse it and take a decision after that. The app claims to ensure the alertness of the driver.

Q. Will more double-decker buses run in Hyderabad?

A. Yes. We already have 10 double-decker buses, and are waiting for the company to supply us with more. They were introduced to provide people with an experience of the history of Hyderabad.

Also read: TSRTC orders 550 pure electric buses from Olectra Greentech

Q. What is the current revenue situation of the RTC?

A. We are able to make more money than before. Cash flow is there, but not to the level of making profits. We have been self-sustaining. Now, with the government chipping in, I think better days are ahead.

Q. How far has the RTC progressed under your two-year tenure?

High tech sleeper buses. (Supplied)

A. If you look at it from all points of view, whether it is operations or employees or even customers, our ridership has increased, and everything has improved.

The behaviour pattern of our own employees has improved and customers have also expressed satisfaction in this regard.

Somewhere around ₹4,000 crore was generated in revenue when I joined. We are now around ₹6,000-6,300 crore. So, it is an increase of 50 percent.

Q. Do you see the Hyderabad Metro as a competitor?

A. The Metro is not a competitor to the TSRTC. It’s because their clients and our clients are very different.

There might be some drop in the number of RTC passengers in some areas where the metro is running, but we are also helping them. We are supplementing them by providing first-mile and last-mile connectivity.

Also, routes for people are totally different as RTC buses cater to the entire state, including 10,000 villages, while Metro is there just in some specific parts of Hyderabad.