Buses to run on CNG soon

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses in the city will use CNG as the Shamirpet CNG supply centre is ready to open soon, said RTC managing director B Prasada Rao today during the ‘bhoomi puja’ of RTC bus depot at Chengicherla.He said that CNG fuel centres will be arranged at Hakimpet, Cantonment and Medchal bus depots. Initially, 230 RTC buses will use CNG in the city. CNG reduces emission of pollution from buses.For the benefit of the rural areas in Ranga Reddy district, RTC had started two depots at Jawaharnagar and Chengicherla.“We are also putting in efforts to open depots at Bandlaguda and Farooqnagar by this year end. We are planning to build 10 more depots in the city with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds,’’ Prasada Rao said. In the next one year, 6,000 old buses will be replaced with new ones by investing nearly Rs 200 crore and budget has been allocated for this.Minister for Transport Botsa Satyanarayana said that though ‘bhoomi puja’ for the construction of Jawaharnagar depot was done, differences among locals on whether the said land should be used for a bus depot of a school will be settled shortly.At Chengicherla village, the bus depot will be constructed in eight acres at a cost of Rs 3.93 crore. RTC officials said the proposed Chengicherla depot can cater to the transportation needs of 41 villages.The Jawaharnagar depot will be constructed in four acres at an estimated cost of Rs 3.95 crore. “Once constructed, both depots will handle 100 buses each,” he said.Meanwhile, the RTC officials of Greater Hyderabad Zone today started a call centre and 16 goodwill centres which will be operated by Brahmani Business Corporation.