PCC to plea govt to share LPG burden RTC fare hike likely: Botsa

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Tuesday revealed that the PCC, on behalf of the ruling Congress, would appeal to the state government to share the burden of increase in prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, Mr Satyanarayana said that the steep hike in LPG prices will affect the poor and middle classes. “In this context, the PCC will appeal to the government to share the burden,” he said.

Pointing out that the state government is already spending Rs 190 crore to subsidise LPG, or Rs 25 per cylinder, Mr Satyanarayana said that the PCC will appeal to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to increase this amount so that the burden on the poor and middle classes is eased.

However, Mr Satyanarayana stated that the commuters in AP State Road Transport Corporation buses would, in all likelihood, would have to shell out more.

He pointed out that the increase in fuel prices meant that sooner or later, the RTC would have to increase the fare too.

“The RTC lost Rs 300 crore last year after the fuel prices were hiked. The Corporation would also lose another Rs 300 crore if the prices of bus tickets are not increased,” he pointed out.

The Transport Minister said the RTC is mulling over a proposal to increase fares, a small hike in Palle Velugu buses and a marginally more increase in fares of Express and Luxury buses, besides other services.

Mr Satyanarayana disclosed that the RTC officials have been asked to explore other alternatives to possibly avoid burdening the commutersrk would be completed in the next three months.