Minister for Transport Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday (September 01) said that the government would soon take a decision on the long standing demand of autorickshaw drivers on revising fares, which he noted had not increased since 2012.

Mr. Prabhakar was addressing media at Bus Bhavan where he touched upon measures and achievements connected to the Transport department and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC).

A welfare board for autorickshaw workers would be set up soon, the Minister said and added that the government would provide ₹1.5 lakh assistance for the retrofitment of petrol and diesel autorickshaws in Hyderabad.

Speaking about the TGSRTC he underscored 347.36 crore women had travelled free on buses under the Mahalakshmi scheme so far, resulting in an estimated savings of ₹12,167 crore for them.

He said that the State road transport undertaking had got 2,932 new buses, including 1,024 electric buses, which are already in plying the roads. An additional 2,200 electric buses would be introduced in the GHZ . The corporation was also operating services on 370 new routes in the city and expanding connectivity to areas without bus services.

He added the TGSRTC ‘s occupancy had increased from 67% to 89%. Notifications had been issued for recruitment to 4,538 posts, while recruitment for 1,000 driver and 743 worker posts had been completed. The government had also approved the recruitment of 1,500 conductors.

He said union elections would be conducted following which the process relating to the merger of RTC employees would be completed. The government had provided RTC workers two PRCs and five DAs, with no DA arrears pending, he added.

He said proposals were also being looked at to bring bike taxis under a regulatory framework through yellow number plates.