The CPI and Telugu Desam organised separate road blockades on the National Highway near Maddilapalem depot on Saturday in protest against the steep hike in APSRTC bus fare with effect from Friday midnight.
The CPI announced that the road blockade would be at the Maddilapalem junction but held the protest in front of the bus depot a short distance away. This had resulted in a large number of buses and other vehicles stranded in the depot and on the highway. The protest went on for nearly 90 minutes before the police moved in and forcibly removed the CPI leaders and workers.
Later the TDP leaders and workers staged a protest in front of the RTC depot. MLA V. Ramakrishna Babu reached the venue in a procession of two-wheelers and blocked the traffic on the highway for about an hour.
The CPI and TDP leaders strongly criticised the Government for increasing the bus fares which would be a big burden for the poor and middle class sections. They demanded that the Government roll back the hike.
