Hyderabad: About 40,000 private vehicles have been seized by the authorities over the last one-and-a-half years for carrying out illegal operations on RTC routes. RTC authorities have estimated a loss of Rs 150 crore to AP and TS each, per month, due to such operations alone.
 
The vehicles which are seized are, however, being let off after imposing a fine and they eventually get back on the same route, keeping the occupancy rates on state buses low.
 
An increase in occupancy ratio by 1 per cent will result in Rs 47 crore increase in revenue, according to authorities and hence the illegal operations affect the financial health of the corporation in a big way.
 
However, insiders said the TSRTC itself is suffering Rs 300 crore losses per month and out of the 94 depots, only six are making profits as against 10 profit-making depots last year.
 
Officials have blamed illegal operations by private carriers and lorries for the dip in profits. Daily 91 lakh passengers are transported by the 10,459 buses by the TSRTC.