Transport Minister P. Mahender Reddy on Wednesday said that if necessary, he would lead a team of senior officials to New Delhi with the objective of expediting the process of bifurcating the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).
He was responding to questions after inspecting four buses that were fitted with a new partition providing 16 seats exclusively for women passengers. On a recent visit to New Delhi, he said he was told by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport officials that the entire process of bifurcation of assets and personnel would be completed in about two months’ time. “If it is really required, I will lead a team to New Delhi to speed up the process,” he assured.
Following a recommendation in the recent report of the Committee for Safety and Security of Women and Girls headed by senior Indian Administrative Service officer Poonam Malakondaiah, he said the corporation had launched a drive to equip about 2,400 buses of the Greater Hyderabad Zone with partitions that would cost about Rs. 4 crore.
Accompanied by Managing Director J. Purnachandra Rao, Joint Managing Director G.V. Ramana Rao and Executive Director, Greater Hyderabad Zone, G. Jaya Rao he inspected four buses that were parked at the bus stop adjacent to the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and interacted with women passengers .
“The women really welcome the arrangement and expressed their happiness at the initiative. In fact even the male passengers appear to like the provision because it means enhanced safety for their family members,” Mr. Reddy said.
Source: The Hindu