The ever-bustling Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS), which reverberates with passengers criss-crossing this hub of transport centre, wore a deserted look on Tuesday due to impact of the strike called by the two recognised unions in the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) –APSRTC Employees Union and National Mazdoor Union.
Nearly 12,000 buses from 123 depots spread across the four RTC zones in the Seemandhra region, remained confined to the garages.
Besides, work also came to a grinding halt in the four production units. “This is marriage season, a time when we can think of minimising losses by chalking out special packages and running additional buses. But unfortunately, the strike has watered down our plans,” said R. Nagaraju, the Corporation’s Executive Director, Vijayawada zone. He said on an average, the RTC would incur a revenue loss of Rs. 3.5 crore daily due to the ongoing strike.
The strike evoked total response in the region.
“The fact that nobody turned up at the main bus station proves that the strike has public support. People voluntarily stayed away from bus stations,” said APSRTC Employees Union zonal secretary Y. Venkateswara Rao.
The fact that the unions have declared the strike for an indefinite period is adding to the officials’ woes.
“We tried speaking to them but the union leaders said that they were now part of the APNGOs fighting for the cause of a united Andhra Pradesh which also means that it will continue for an indefinite period,” said Mr. Nagaraju.
