Revenues Of RTC Cargo Services Receive A Boost In Rayalaseema Zone
KADAPA: State-run APSRTC buses are not only packed with passengers but have also witnessed a significant increase in revenues thanks to cargo services and parcel deliveries. Cargo operations in the Rayalaseema region have emerged as a major source of revenue for the company.
Intensive efforts to strengthen goods transportation over the past few years have yielded impressive results, officials said.
The Rayalaseema region, headquartered in Kadapa, encompasses eight districts comprising the erstwhile Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa and Chittoor districts. The district currently generates an average monthly revenue of ₹ 5.50 crore through cargo services, which is a remarkable achievement.
Around 1,200 to 1,300 services are operated in each district, and cargo services are provided on all routes depending on demand.
Rayalaseema Region Cargo Services general manager (CGM) M. Gopinath said, “Compared to private operators, APSRTC offers lower tariffs and ensures timely delivery of packages. These benefits have contributed to the steady growth of our cargo services, which are now a reliable source of revenue for the company.”
There are seven major bus depots in eight Rayalaseema districts actively running operations. On average, more than 70,000 packages are delivered through RTC services each month. Officials noted that the figures recorded in June were among the highest in the state.
N. Madhusudhan Gupta, a trader from Tirupati who regularly uses RTC cargo services, said, “RTC cargo charges are lower compared to private parcel services. Deliveries are fast. I have been consistently sending my business shipments through RTC for the last three years.”
Meanwhile, with the AP government’s Stree Shakti scheme offering free bus travel to women in RTC buses, occupancy levels across the state have crossed 90 per cent. Despite the heavy passenger load, RTC was able to successfully expand its package services.
Officials estimate that around 6 to 7 crore packages are transported annually in the Rayalaseema region alone. Their numbers are expected to increase further. A senior RTC official from Kadapa district said: “We plan to expand cargo services to more product categories in all districts across the state in the coming years.”
