APSRTC R'mundry in the black

The Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Rajahmundry Region, earned a profit of Rs 199.72 lakh during the period April 2006-07, compared with a loss of Rs 645.99 lakh in 2005-06.

The RTC Rajahmundry region consisting of nine depots.

Earnings from April 1, 2006, to January 31, 2007, stood at Rs 12, 708.64 lakh, compared with Rs 10,696.29 lakh for the same period last financial year.

The region registered a profit of Rs 11.90 lakh in January 2007 by earning Rs 0.13 profit per kilometre, while during the corresponding period last year it incurred Rs 37.05 loss at Rs 0.42 per km.

Occupancy rate stood at 66 per cent during April 2006 to January 2007.

"Reducing internal expenses, identifying viable roots, running special buses during auspicious days and improving efficiency of the staff helped in achieving profits,'' N Vivekananda, regional manager of APSRTC, Rajahmundry, said.

The region earned 108.64 lakh by running 131 special buses to Sabarimala and Pancharamas like Draksharama, Samalkot, Palakole, Bhimavaram and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, he added.