956 Part 5 of Closure of Private Travels, and the hardships of unpaid Laborers. SOME SOLUTIONS.

Question: You seem to be a fool. Why are you trying to link the Great sculpture of Late Devi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, with the Bus of the now-closed Kesineni Travels, Vijayawada? Ans: Late Devi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, very effectively depicted the Triumph of Labor. Labor does not mean only breaking of stones. It can include thousands of activities undertaken by humans, in their ceaseless attempts to fill their bellies. Nobody can measure the value of the sweat of the Laborers, though monetary wages may be paid to them for their toil, influenced by some vague Economic Theories like Demand and Supply theory of Wages, Opportunity Cost theory of Wages, Marginal Productivity Theory of Wages, etc. While this is so when wages are paid, what will be the position if wages are NOT paid for eight months? According to the news reports the drivers, cleaners, mechanics etc. working in the Kesineni Travels have not been paid their wages for the last eight months. They say that they were surviving with the daily allowance being paid when they were going on outdoor duty. Now, that the Travels is closed, that source of subsistence is not available.

First, you justify your analogy of the DPR Chowdhury's sculpture 'Triumph of Labor' and the 'Travels Laborers'.

Ans: The toil of vehicle drivers not only has a historical heritage, but also a mythological heritage.
The adjacent picture shows the plight of Mahabharata Warrior Karna, trying to lift his wheel struck in mud, while facing the arrows of Arjuna. Drivers and cleaner of vehicles, the tires of which are struck in mud, or which are punctured, or there is some sudden failure of engine or there is some broken axle / rear springs (in Telugu language, these are called kamAnu kaTTAs), when they were cruising through in drenching rains or in blistering Sun @48 degrees C., face innumerable hardships. We have to do some sort of 'para kAya pravEsam' [A Telugu / Sanskrit / Hindi phrase for a sort of empathy. para=others. kAya=body. pravESam=enter, entry. Gist: We have to enter into the body(ies) of other persons to know their feelings and experience their hardships (sometimes joys also)]. Till the wheels are pulled out of the mud, or the punctured tyre is replaced, or the broken axle / kamAn kaTTa is replaced, their slogging will be LIMITLESS. Though not identical to, the exertions of the drivers, cleaners and mechanics, can be compared to the sweat of the Laborers in the DP Roy Chowdhury's sculpture 'Triumph of Labor'. When the vehicle starts cruising again, their pains will get gradually reduced, and at the end of the day, they return home with their 'triumphs' in memories.

But the above is the story of PAID WORKERS. What will be the misery of the workers who are denied their wages for their slogging of eight months?

SOME IMMEDIATE SOLUTION

It appears that in Andhra Pradesh, or in India, the Labor Dept. Govt. Officials, or Govt. Officials of any other Departments do not seem to have powers to conduct an immediate search of the Business Premises of the Employers who default on wages / who close their businesses. (There may be some forgotten Sections of Law, never implemented by the Government Officials).
If required, the Government of Andhra Pradesh immediately issue an Ordinance signed by the Governor, empowering Govt. Officials to search and seize cash / movables / vehicles in the closed business premises of the Employer. The Ordinance should also have provision for confiscating the Employer's Personal Properties. Workers' Wages cannot wait for the Liquidation of Companies under Indian Companies Act by High Courts, and for appointment of Official Receivers / Assignees / Liquidators. Pledgees / Hyphothecatees / mortgagees should be forced to sell the assets in their charge / under their possession, and pay the Workers Wages immediately.

All the things seized should be immediately sold in Open Public Auction by giving just three days notice to the Employer. Proceeds of the Auction should be paid to the Workers immediately.

Under no circumstances, laborers should be made to wait for the outcome of Court suits and judgements.

LONG TERM, PREVENTIVE SOLUTION

For this also, we have to amend labor laws. At the beginning of the month, an Employer should calculate the wages he will be liable to pay the Workers for the ensuing month, and should deposit the money so calculated in an Escrow Account with a Bank opened for the purpose. The Bank should not allow the amounts in that account to be withdrawn for any other purpose. At the end of the month, the Employer can issue cheques / issue Account Transfer instructions for payment of wages, by credit to the personal accounts of the employees. If this procedure is followed, why will wages accumulate for eight months?

For knowing this, why does Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh require a KAIZEN APP? HOW IS IT THAT: A Great self-declared EXPERIENCED GREAT-Administrator like Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, did not know about the default committed in payment of wages by his own Member of Parliament. Mr. Naidu is not legendary Dhritarashtra, nor Mr. Nani is Dhritarashtra's son Duryodhana. What were the Transport Minister, Transport Secretaries, Labor Secretaries, CMO, IAS/IPS Officers doing? At least they ought to have gathered information about defaults in payment of wages, and reported to their boss!!!

To continue adding / deleting / modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

952 Part 4 of Closure of Private Tours-Travels in Andhra Pradesh

Private Sector Businesses are like Octopuses. Anything entangled and wrapped up into the tentacles of Octopus cannot get out easily. Coexistence of Private and Public Sector is never possible because Private Sector Businesses do not entertain any social responsibilities. They want Super Profits, whereas Public Sector Businesses survive on and aim at Normal Profits. Private Sector Businesses aim at Super Profits because their promoters want to become Super Rich and build their Empires Super Fast. While pursuing their trajectories of Greed, Private Sector Businesses sometimes forget the precautions for safety, and take undue risks, consequently exposing their stakeholders to untold miseries. They also do not worry about legality or, illegality of their businesses, as long as Super Profits can be minted. The Closure of Kesineni Tours and Travels, Vijayawada can also, probably be, quoted as examples for these characteristic features of Private Sector.

POLITICS FOR BUSINESS PERSONS CAN BE PROFITABLE, AS WELL AS, SLIPPERY

When the owner of Messrs. Kesineni Tours and Travels-- Shri Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani, entered into Indian Politics, and successfully contested as the Member of Parliament from Vijayawada Constituency, what prospects he might have had anticipated, we do not know. Many Citizens believe that he has spent around Rs. 1 billion (Rs. 100 crore) towards his 2014 Lok Sabha election expenses, and to publicise-patronize the walkathlon-pAdayAtra (A program of walking long distances undertaken by politicians to contact the public). Such diversion may, or may not be true. There is also an impression a part of the Funds of Travels Business was diverted to constructing a Hotel of a Subsidiary Company. Truth will come out only if an independent inquiry by a High Court Judge / CBI is ordered. Anyway, the Closure of Kesineni Travels is a hidden mystery-history.

APSRTC not willing take over the Buses of Kesineni Travels

Prajasakti Telugu Daily, Print Edition from Vijayawada, dated 14th Apr. 2017, page 9, has reported that Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is not inclined to take over the Buses of M/s. Kesineni Travels. We shall see some quotes from this Prajasakti News, which unfortunately no other TV Channel / Print Paper did not bother to publish. Approx. For the benefit of my Readers who do not know Telugu, English equivalent of Prajasakti News, is given side by side. My congratulations and gratitude to Prajasakti News Paper for publishing this great public interest news.

కేశినేని ట్రావెల్స్‌ బస్సుల్ని తీసుకుంటే నిర్వహించలేమని ఆర్టీసీ చెప్తుండగా తన బస్సుల్ని ఆర్టీసీ తీసుకునేలా చూడాలని ఎంపి కేశినేని నాని సిఎం చంద్రబాబును కోరినట్లు తెలిసింది. గురువారం జరిగిన రవాణా శాఖ సమీక్షలో సిఎం దీనిపై రవాణా, ఆర్టీసీ అధికారులతో మాట్లాడినట్లు సమాచారం. While RTC is telling that they cannot manage the buses of Kesineni Travels if they take over, it transpired that M.P., Shri Kesineni Nani has requested C.M., Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, to see that RTC takes over his buses. There is information that Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu is reported to have talked about it with the RTA and RTC Officials, in his Review of Transport Department, held on Thursday.

కొత్తగా ఎసి బస్సుల్ని తీసుకోవడం వల్ల నష్టాలు మరింత పెరుగుతాయని అధికారులు చెప్పగా దాని గురించి ఆలోచించొద్దని, బస్సులు తీసుకునే మార్గాన్ని చూడాలని ఆర్టీసీ అధికారులకు సిఎం సూచించినట్లు తెలిసింది. దీంతో ఈ విషయం పెద్ద చర్చనీయాంశమైంది. It transpired that Officilas have indicated that if now AC Buses are taken over, losses would go up. CM is reported to have indicated to the Officials not to think about that and that they should see a way to take over the buses.

మరోవైపు కేశినేని బస్సులు తీసుకోవద్దని పలు కార్మిక సంఘాలు చెప్తుండగా తన బస్సులు తీసుకునేలా చూడాలని కేశినేని ఓ కార్మిక సంఘంతో చర్చిస్తున్న ట్లు తెలిసింది. While on one side, many Labor Unions are saying that Kesineni Buses are NOT TO BE TAKEN OVER, it transpired that Shri Kesineni is talking to one Labor Union, so as to see that his buses are taken over.

దీంతో కేశినేని వ్యవహారం ఇప్పట్లో తీరేలా కనిపించడం లేదు. బస్సులు తీసుకోవడమంటే ఆర్థికంగా నష్టపోవడమేనని ఆర్టీసీ అధికారులు చెప్తున్నా నష్టాల గురించి ఆలోచించకుండా ముందుకెళ్లేందుకు వినూత్నంగా ఆలోచించాలని, పట్టుబట్టుకుని కూర్చోవద్దని ఆగ్రహాన్ని వ్యక్తం చేసిన సిఎం చివరకు సాధ్యాసాధ్యాల్ని పరిశీలించాలని సూచించినట్లు సమాచారం. With this, the Kesineni affair does not appear to get settled in short run. Information is that: Despite RTC Officials telling that 'Taking over buses means incurring financial losses', CM has expressed anger, and advised them to examine the possibilities, without thinking about losses, and to think creatively/with novelty, and not to sit adamently on what they say.

కేశినేని సంస్థలో చాలా బస్సులు కండిషన్లో లేవని, దీనివల్ల నిర్వహణా పరంగా నష్టం వస్తుందని ఆర్టీసీ యాజమాన్యం సిఎం దృష్టికి తీసుకెళ్లింది. అయితే కండిషనల్లో వున్న బస్సుల్ని తీసుకోవాలని సిఎం అన్నట్లు సమాచారం. రవాణా అధికారులు మాత్రం దీనికి విముఖంగా ఉన్నారు. కార్మిక సంఘాలతో ఆర్టీసీపై ఒత్తిడి తీసుకొచ్చేందుకు ఎంపి ప్రయత్నిస్తున్నారని, ఇది సరైన పద్ధతి కాదని అంటున్నారు. In the Kesineni organisation, many buses are not in condition, and owing to this, operational losses are being incurred. This has been brought by RTC Management to the notice of the Chief Minister. The information is, that CM has advised them to take over buses which are in condition.

ఇప్పటి వరకు ప్రైవేట్‌ ట్రావెల్స్‌ బస్టాండు ముందే బస్సుల్ని పెట్టి ప్రయాణికుల్ని ఎక్కించుకు వెళుతున్నాయని, వాటిని కేశినేని నాని కూడా ప్రోత్సహించారని, ప్రజాప్రతినిధిగా ఆయన ఆర్టీసీ నష్టాల్ని పట్టించుకోలేదని అధికారులు చెప్తున్నారు. Officials say that, till now, private buses have been placing their buses before the Bus Stands, and weaning away Passengers, that Shri Kesineni too has encouraged those, and as a People's Representative he did not bother about the losses of RTC. br />
సంస్థ నష్టపోయిందని చెప్పిన అదే వ్యక్తి తన బస్సులను ఆర్టీసీ తీసుకోవాలని ఒత్తిడి తేవడమంటే సంస్థను అవమానించడ మేనని, దీనిపై చర్చ జరగాల్సిన అవసరం ఉందని అంటున్నారు.

అయితే కేశినేని విషయంపై రాజకీయ కోణంలో నూ అనేక విమర్శలు వస్తున్నాయి. భవిష్యత్‌లో ఆర్టీసీని జిల్లాల వారీగా విడదీసి నిర్వహించనున్నారని గతంలో వార్తలొచ్చాయి. దీనివల్ల నిర్వహణా భారం తగ్గి నష్టాలు తగ్గుతాయని ప్రభుత్వం అంచనా వేసింది. ఆర్టీసీని జిల్లాల వారీగా విడదీస్తే నిర్వహణను ప్రైవేట్‌ సంస్థలకు అప్పగించనున్నారు. ఈ కోణంలోనే కేశినేని తన బస్సులను ఆర్టీసీలోకి పంపించడం ద్వారా భవిష్యత్‌లో జిల్లాల వారీగా ఏజెన్సీలను స్వాధీనం చేసుకోవాలనే ఆలోచనలో ఉన్నట్లు ఆర్టీసీ కార్మిక సంఘాల నాయకులు చెప్తున్నారు. There are many criticisms in political angle about Shri Kesineni. There were past reports that, in future, RTC is going to be divided District-wise and run. Govt. has estimated that by doing that, operational costs will fall, and losses can be controlled. They are going to hand over operations to Private Organisations, if RTC is divided District-wise. RTC Employee leaders say that, from this angle only, Shri Kesineni by sending his buses to APSRTC, is planning to take possession of Districtwise Agencies in future.

yb-a-donkey's views which are not intended to be imposed on others

APSRTC taking over the Buses of M/s. Kesineni Travels can lead to several critical problems. 1. RTC's sickness can increase. 2. Existing employees of APSRTC may resent merger, owing to possibility of dilution of their own service and working conditions. 3. Management will be overburdened.

I have already given one work around solution:

NEW ANDHRA ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION (NARTC) SHOULD BE STARTED

Andhra Pradesh Government can invest a Seed Capital of Rs. 1 billion (Rs. 100 crore) in the NARTC.

APSRTC can also invest some amount symbolically, so that Representatives of APSRTC can be inducted into the Board of NARTC.

NARTC has, initially, to pay the same wages which the defunct Kesineni Travels used to pay to its drivers, conductors and mechanics (etc). When the profits of NARTC reach a reasonable level, new wages can be negotiated with NARTC Workers Unions. These can be more / less than the wages paid by APSRTC to its workers.

Workers of NARTC can be given representation on their Corporation's Board. APSRTC's workers can also be given representation on the NARTC Board , and vice versa.

NARTC can fix its own charges, may be more/less than APSRTC Fares.

NARTC can be permitted to use the APSRTC Bus Stands. APSRTC can collect charges from NARTC for using its Bus Stations. This will improve the non-fare Income of APSRTC.

Wherever the APSRTC Bus Stations are congested / overcrowded, but if APSRTC has vacant spaces at the same site , or at some other sites in that Town / City APSRTC can lease them out to NARTC.

APSRTC and NARTC should not form Cartels for jacking up fares. At the same time, they should not indulge in cut-throat competition with one another making one another sick. They should have friendly competition, while trying to help one another.

Unemployed-existing Workers of Kesineni, workers of APSRTC can also be invited to purchase shares in NARTC, with no provision for Resale in Stock Exchanges. However, they can be permitted to re-sell their shares to their co-workers in NARTC and APSRTC.

VOCABULARY NOTES ON THE WORD 'TRAJECTORY' trajectory/trəˈdʒɛkt(ə)ri,ˈtradʒɪkt(ə)ri/. noun
The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces. a curve or surface cutting a family of curves or surfaces at a constant angle.
(source: web).

951 Part 3 of Private Travels closures, Future of Public Sector Bank Loans to Private Travels, Future of APSRTC, some solutions

I have no love or hate relationship with any bourgeoisie political party in Residual Andhra Pradesh or India. My interest in writing this particular blog post is, the problems which closures of Private Travels such as Kesineni Travels, Kaleswari Travels are likely to pose to Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, probably the largest Public Sector Road Transport Corporation in India, and the World (in terms of number of buses), and which is reported to be a Guinness Book of Records holder. My concern is also about the problems which Indian Public Sector Banks in India, and especially the PSBs in Residual Andhra Pradesh are likely to face, when their indiscriminate careless lendings to Private Tours and Travels become NPAs. I am also deeply distressed about the problems which the families of displaced Private Tours-Travels Staff i.e. the Proletariat (drivers, cleaners, mechanics, booking clerks, accountants, etc.) are likely to face in an alround miserable unemployment situation in the State and the Country.

It has been found by Googling on the Net, that M/s. Kesineni Travels who were earlier owning nearly 400 buses, have already sold approx. 230 buses, leaving the 170 buses which they now have at the time of closure on April 2017. It is not clear to whom they have sold their 230 buses. If they have sold their buses to other Private Operators in Residual Andhra Pradesh, then probably the drivers, cleaners, mechanics etc. relating to the 230 buses might have been absorbed by the buyers. In such a case, the Proletariat may not have immediate problem of unemployment, but they cannot ask for rises in wages till at least one two years ahead, as their primary concern of job security itself will be in jeopardy.

If the buses were sold to operators located in other States of India, then those buyers may be interested to appoint their own drivers, cleaners, mechanics. In such a case, the Proletariat will have a serious unemployment problem.

It is not clear whether M/s. Kesineni Travels have obtained any Public Sector Bank Loans for the 230 buses they have sold, and if so, they have repaid PROPORTIONATELY their loans to the Banks. Let us hope that they have cleared their loans in respect of those 230 buses which were alledged to have been sold.

Early Reports indicated that they will be selling the remaining 170 buses also. But the position seems to have changed. Now, it appears that they may propose to sell only some buses which are more than 5-7 years old, and retain the remaining buses. Whatever be the case and the number of buses on sale, the first thing will have to be, that they have to clear Public Sector Bank Loans,PROPORTIONATE TO THE NO. OF BUSES SOLD.

Allegations of Mr. Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, YSRCP MLA from Chandragiri, that KESINENI IS DOING A MALLYA.

Reputed English Newspaper -Times of India Print Edition, Vijayawada , dated 11th April 2017, Page 3 has published two reports.

1. Titled: Nani mulls selling luxury buses to clear bank loans.

2. Kesineni is doing a Mallya, says YSRC. This allegation is by Mr. Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, YSRCP MLA, from Chandragiri Constituency, near Tirupati. The reference to 'Mallya' is a comparison to Mr. Vijay Mallya of United Breveries and Kingfisher Airlines who evaded Bank loans to the tune of about Rs. 80 billion and fled to (resettled in?) London for safety.

This comparison by Mr. Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy is ridiculous. The Bank Loans outstanding o/a Kesineni Travels is reported to be just Rs. 40 crore (.4 billion) as against 80 billion of Mr. Vijay Mallya. Besides, there is no proof that Kesineni Travel is a Willful Defaulter. Such comparisons ought not to have been made by YSRCP MLAs.

SANCTION OF LOANS TO PRIVATE TRAVEL OPERATORS BY PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS

This ought not to have been done by Public Sector Banks on a large scale, because RUNNING LUXURY BUSES ONLY FOR 'CONTRACT CARRIAGES' is not economically viable in Andhra Pradesh. A few buses will be sufficient for the purpose. The businesses run by Private Travels in Andhra Pradesh is by inference ILLEGAL, because the buses are run as Stage Carriages, in connivance with SOME Road Transport, Police, and APSRTC Officials. For illegal and illicit businesses, though they may not be officially and formally declared as 'illegal', Public Sector Banks cannot extend loans on large scale, doing Credit Appraisal, taking into consideration, their viability as Stage Carriers. TOP MANAGEMENTS OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS MUST OPEN THEIR EYES, BECAUSE SIMILAR THINGS MAY BE GOING ON NOT ONLY IN VIJAYAWADA AND HYDERABAD, but all over India.

News report: "RTC Staff remind Vijayawada MP On Payback Time"

RTC Employees' Union General Secretary is reported to have said:

"...Nani and other Private Travel Operators have earnd crors of rupees by operating buses on profitable routes but APSRTC incurred huge losses as it had to run services in villages and remote areas. They earned crores all these years. It is payback time for Nani. ..."

"...Nani should hand over all his buses to RTC free of cost. 'this will save the Corporation a lot on purchasing the new buses..."

ONE SUGGESTION WHICH CAN BE GIVEN AT THIS JUNCTURE

ybdonkey's views which are not intended to be imposed on others

Handing over buses to RTC free of cost, as suggested by RTC Unions does not appear to be practicable.

Both the present ruling party TDP, and the past ruling parties Congress-YSRCP-Kiran Congress have all encouraged Private Travels at the expense of Public Sector APSRTC. Anyway, it is all history, and spilt milk.

Even now we cannot believe that, Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, the present Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh will be interested to do justice to APSRTC, or the displaced workers of private travel workers, or the Public Sector Banks for their NPAs. Yet, if he is sincere, he can appoint an Expert Committee of Independent persons such as Judges (Sitting/Retired), Valuers-Survyors-Engineers), Private Labor Representatives, RTC Labor Representatives, RTC Management Representatives, Pvt. Travel Owners Representatives, Public Sector Bank Representatives and other stake holders.

2. Market Value, Forced Sale Value (Auction value) of the 170 buses is to be arrived at.

3. Start a New Public Sector RTC with a suitable name such as 'New Andhra SRTC', State Government providing Seed Capital to the New Andhra SRTC. APSRTC also may be permitted to invest into the venture.

4. Convince the Lending Banks for a Novation of their Loans, marking repayment of the loans payable by Kesineni Travels as REPAID , and introducing "New Andhra SRTC" as the new Debtor, with rescheduled instalments. In other words 170 bus loans of M/s. Kesineni Travels are to be transferred to the New Andhra SRTC.

5. New Andhra SRTC has to absorb the employees working on the 170 buses, continuing the same salaries which were being drawn by the Private Travel Employees prior to closure. The New Andhra SRTC can raise their employee wages, when it starts earning profits.

6. New Andhra SRTC should be issued Stage Carriage Permits, and- All India Permits for Inter-State Routes as per rules

7. We cannot have monopolies, because monopolies can breed inefficiencies and complacencies. There should be competition among Public Sector RTCs. APSRTC should be able to compete with the New Andhra SRTC.

To continue adding / deleting / modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

947 Part 2 of aftermath of collapse of Kesineni Travels, how Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu may or may not handle

In India, road transport system, seems to be in a mixed state in the sense that some States like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have a well-developed Public Sector Road Transport Corporations equipped with thousands of buses covering thousands of kilometers and carrying millions of passengers everyday, whereas some other States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh have very underdeveloped private sector buses and potholled roof-torn bus stations. States with denser network of railway coverage, seem to be neglecting Public Sector Road Transport Corporations (hereafter I call them RTCs). In those States, politicians owning private bus companies seem to be obstructing the development of public sector RTCs. I had a few occasions of seeing some bus stations in a dilapidated and decaying State. 1) Gaya, Bihar. A District Head Quarter City. 2) Jamshedpur, also popular as Tata City having TISCO (Steel), TELCO (Automobile) Plants. In both the cities, I found the Public Sector RTC Bus stands and RTC Buses in a primitive state of maintenance and development.

ANDHRA PRADESH and TELANGANA STATES

In the United Andhra Pradesh State of prior to 2014 June, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation used to be very strong, with international and national reputation for various parameters of efficiency. Now, we have two separate RTCs-- Telangana SRTC, and Residual APSRTC. Both the RTCs seem to be incurring operating losses, which are mainly attributable to 1) low occupancy ratios caused by cutthroat competition from Private Bus Companies. 2) High incidence of road and other taxes. 3) Failure of State Governments to compensate / compensate in time, for the concessions extended to various classes of bus pass such as a) student passes b) Govt. Employee passes. 4) Not permitting Public Sector RTCs to raise charges in proportion to increase in costs.

ROLE OF VIJAYAWADA BASED PRIVATE BUS COMPANIES IN MAKING APSRTC SICK

Everybody knows that Vijayawada based Private Bus Companies played a major role in lowering the occupancy ratios of APSRTC Buses. The Private Bus Companies were taking permits to ply CONTRACT Buses (To run them on whole bus contract basis for purposes such as marriages, pilgrimages, with predetermined starting point, terminus, with no intermediate boarding/alighting), but were running them as Stage Carriages (With provision for boarding and alighting by passengers, issuance of tickets enroute, employing conductors on the buses). The Private Bus Companies specialised in HEAVY TRAFFIC LUCRATIVE PROFITABLE ROUTES such as Vijayawada-Hyderabad, Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada-Bengaluru, Vijayawada-Shirdi. They have no burden of running buses to non-profitable rural routes, called 'palle velugu' in Telugu (English: rural lights). Nor do they have to honour/issue free Student Bus Passes. APSRTC has been burdened with everything. This lacuna, every ruler of Andhra Pradesh, both past, and present, knows. Yet they do not have any sympathy towards APSRTC. On the other hand, rulers themselves have started owning and running Private Bus Companies in hidden-benamy names.

Related Links, and earlier posts

1. Post No. 488 at this blog .

1. Post No. 770 at this blog .

1. Post No. 946 at this blog. . .

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946 It is high time that Public Sector Transport Corporations are strengthened in India

On 1st April 2017, The Hindu.com reported that Kesineni Travels, Vijayawada, owned by Shri Kesineni Nani, MP from Vijayawada, is closing. Link: Click here to go to http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/kesineni-nani-quits-transport-business/article17755772.ece and see the earliest report on this subject.. Here is a quote from the report:

“The MP is upset over repeated accusations that the private travels mafia is pulling the strings. So, he has decided to quit the transport business with a sole objective that his business interests should not bring disgrace to the party (TDP),” said sources close to Mr. Nani.

The MP has been at loggerheads with the officials demanding action against the errant private travels. Mr. Nani and Vijayawada (Central) MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao were pulled up by the Chief Minister following their apparent rude behaviour with Transport Commissioner N. Balasubrahmanyam. Subsequently, they apologised to the Transport Commissioner.

After the Meeting of Shri Kesineni Srinivas (Nani), with Shri Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, with the Chief Minister of Residual Andhra Pradesh, it appeared as though Mr. Srinivas has relented, and that Kesineni Travels will continue as hitherto.

It appeared as though Mr. Nani was just trying to pressurise Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, so as to soften him towards the Private Travels Businesses in Andhra Pradesh, particularly his own business, after the fiasco of TV Exposures of Rude Conversations of TDP Leaders with the Dy. Transport Commissioner , and his being subsequently compelled to tender an apology to the hurt RTA & IPS Officer, who was appealing to him with folded hands.

Mr. Naidu has done him a favor, by treating the matter as closed, without allowing the law to take its own course, as the matter is serious in the sense that a Public Servant was prevented from discharging his duties.

FRENCH VOCABULARY PHRASE: FAIT ACCOMPLI fait accompli/ˌfeɪt əˈkɒmpli,French fɛt akɔ̃pli/

a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.

Usage notes

Often said of something irreversible and/or performed without going through standard procedure, completed before those affected by it are in a position to query or reverse it.
Synonyms
done deal

source: Wikipedia.org

There is a Telugu proverb: "GAliki pOyE pEla pinDi krishNArpaNam". Approx. English: The popped flour flying away in the wind, is offered to Lord Krishna. The purport here is: The flour is going anyway, why not we offer to God and get 10 times in return! Anyway there are losses, time has come to close the business. Then why not do it in a lofty way saying "my business interests should not bring disgrace to the party (TDP)"

Now, we can get an impression that prior to meeting the Dy. Transport Commissioner itself, Mr. Nani seems to have made up his mind to close up his Travels Transport Business, may be due to extremely cut-throat competition from Private Travels operating from other States like Telangana and Arunachal Pradesh. He might have wanted to impress on the Dy. Transport Commissioner about the need to take stringent action/steps against competitors from other States like Orange Travels, which many people believe is secretly owned by Mr. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. But, somehow,it might not have materialised.

Besides, prior to bifurcation of United Andhra Pradesh, the Travels Business between Hyderabad and Vijayawada, and Hyderabad-Rajahmundry-Kakinada-Visakhapatnam used to be dominated by Vijayawada Travels Owners. After the dis-section of the State, two State Transport Authorities one at Hyderabad, and the other at Vijayawada, had emerged. This might have resulted in double payment of bribes, like a candle burning at both ends. It might have led to losses of travel operators from Coastal Andhra.

After the Divakar Travels' Bus Accident at Mullapadu, Jaggaiahpet Mandal, in which 10 passengers were killed, the bus being owned by the family of a Telugu Desam MP from Anantapur, Telugu TV News Channels have profusely highlighted the violation of CONTRACT BUS PERMIT TERMS, and PLYING THE CONTRACT BUSES AS STAGE CARRIERS. This might have at least partially forced the Government and the Transport Authority Officials to mount their rides, insisting on compliance with the Contract Carriage Permit Terms. This might have made the Private Travel Business in Residual Andhra Pradesh, non-viable, and hazardous, as at every stage, bribes will have to be paid.

Has the MP been hurt, by non-inclusion of his representative in the State Cabinet?

The MP might have insisted that his representative Mr. Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao be inducted into the Cabinet, which could not take place owing to various permutations and combinations relating to caste and District.

DID 2014 ELECTION EXPENSES, AND HIS SUPPORTING THE PADAYATRAS OF MR. CHANDRA BABU NAIDU, MAKE MR. NANI, TO INCUR LOSSES, AND force him TO CLOSURE OF BUSINESS

Many websites on Internet support this view. Even otherwise, commonsense will support this view. Elections in India are not a joke. 'Unbearable expenses' make India's Parliamentary Democracy a joke. All the Political Parties in the country, including the Left Parties mobilise Corporate donations. While parties mobilise Corporate Funds on a massive scale, they may not be distributing the funds to the Contestant candidates at grassroots level. After spending some amounts for printing publicity materials, for releasing newspaper and TV ads., after paying hires of charatered aircraft, remaining booty the political parties may be hiding with themselves, or remitting abroad for credit to secret numbered accounts.

HEAVY BURDENS ON CONTESTANT CANDIDATES

If contesting candidates are forced to spend their own money-- not only to get themselves elected, but also help the Assembly Candidates in their Lok Sabha Constitutency, poor candidates from Weaker Sections in the adjoining Constituencies, the MP contestants will get soaked with expense bills of all types. Those bills will affect the personal businesses of the contestants, making them to borrow from money lenders. If they get opportunities to recoup their expenses in their five year term as early as possible, their businesses will re-enter the progressive track, else their businesses will derail and everything will be topsy-turvy.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE - TOPSY-TURVY

Etymology

Earlier topside-turvey, topsy-tervy; probably for top so turvy; that is, the top as turvy, as it were turvy, where turvy probably means "overturned", from Middle English torven, torvien (“to throw; cast”), from Old English torfian (“to throw; pelt”), from Proto-Germanic *turbōną (“to fling, hurl”). Related to Old English tearflian (“to wallow, roll over”), Old English ġetyrfian (“to assail with missiles; attack; assault”). More at terve. Adjective

topsy-turvy (comparative topsy-turvier, superlative topsy-turviest)

Backwards or upside-down disorderly; chaotic.

Source Link:Wikipedia.org.

Additional related links: http://www.mouthshut.com/product-reviews/Kesineni-Travels-Hyderabad-reviews-925106966

yb-a-donkey's personal experience, not intended to be imposed on others

It happened at about 18 years back. My son was writing a Medical Entrance Test conducted by Karnataka State in Bengaluru, Karnataka State. I and my two sons visited Bengaluru. For return journey, we could not get train/APSRTC reservation towards Vijayavada. Consequently, we were forced to book a Private Travel ticket, and that happened to be Kesineni Travels. AS staying expenses were heavy, we had limited money for boarding and lodging, inasmuch as in those days there were no ATMs, we could not afford to stay longer in Bengaluru, Though I myself personally disliked to travel in a Private Bus, there was no alternative.

Ahead of the the stipulated time, we boarded the bus, and occupied our seats. Later three other passengers boarded the bus, and demanded us to vacate our seats, as according to them, they are reserved for them. We saw their tickets. They too were having valid tickets booked with the same seat numbers, same trip, same date etc. Some minutes later, the Driver came and asked us to vacate the seats and give them to the other claimants. We protested and resisted. The driver laughed and said: "It is common here to allot same seat numbers to different persons. Our experience shows that some people cancel their tickets later and before the bus starts, and we accommodate the waiting standing persons to occupy the seats falling newly vacant."

Then, I threatened the Driver/his assistant to drag their Travels to Consumer Forum. I do not know why, the driver did not say 'Do as you like. But vacate the sat'. Instead, he asked the other persons to get down, or proceed as standing passengers. They preferred to continue as standing passengers upto Vijayawada. (Bangalore is very costly!!! Nobody can afford to stay).

Then the driver/his assistant, made those three persons to sit in seats reserved for towns ahead.

At Madanapalli or Piler (I do not remember exactly), a pregnant woman and two of her relatives boarded the bus. Then driver's assistant asked the previous three persons to vacate the seats and give them to the pregnant woman and her two relatives, for whom the seats were reserved in advance. Those three persons did not accept. They started shouting, for the mismanagement.

Now, the driver's assistant asked the pregnant woman and her aids to sit on a flat wooden pITa (used in homes for dining on floor), laid by him on the floor of the bus, between the rows. That pregnant woman stretched her two legs, and tried a lot to continue her journey sitting on the wooden plate. Her situation became pitiable. Unable to see it, I vacated my seat and asked her to occupy my seat. She thanked me, and traveled in that seat upto Vijayawada. At Ongole or Kavali, a passenger got down, and I could get another seat.

After reaching home, I wrote two letters to Kesineni Travels, Vijayawada, bringing to their notice, how a pregnant woman was made to travel from Pileru to Vijayawada, sitting on floor-wooden-pITA. No reply was received from them. I thought that Private Sector fellows would not reply, and writing them would be hitting one's own head to a rock. I left it.

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