As most services of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were off the road, the top management got down to the task of trying to bring the 3,000-odd hired buses out of the depot by going on a drive to recruit temporary drivers.
According to APSRTC Managing Director N. Sambasiva Rao, of the 356 drivers who turned up at the depots with heavy vehicle driving licence, only 186 were found fit and with driving skills that could satisfy officials of the level of Deputy Transport Commissioners who assisted APSRTC officers in recruiting temporary drivers. “We know the dangers involved. I can assure you that safety is uppermost in our minds and that is why we are taking the help of transport officials who can better assess driving skills,” he told presspersons.
KCR’s effigy burnt
The entire TSRTC transport system came to a standstill in Medak district on Wednesday with all 610 buses under seven depots in the district staying off the roads. At Zaheerabad, some of the employees burnt the effigy of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. It was reported that one Jabbar Ali attempted suicide by self immolation.
Tension prevailed at the bus depot in Bhadrachalam when a section of the striking employees foiled attempts by the RTC officials concerned to operate hired buses in the afternoon. Taking advantage of the strike, the private vehicle operators allegedly fleeced the passengers by exploiting the event.
Only 26 hired services operated, while government buses were confined to the district. Almost all the 3,200 corporation employees and workers went on strike.
A large number of unemployed youth queued up before the office of the Regional Manager to be engaged for temporary employment.
Tension prevailed at the Hanamkonda Bus stand with employees on strike staging a demonstration and when they tried to chase away the large
number of unemployed who came for temporary duties. The police clamped Sec 144 prohibiting gathering of four or more people to ease the tension. Some unidentified miscreants also damaged window panes of a bus that came from Madhira depot.
The strike turned violent in Karimnagar district with the striking employees breaking the window panes of buses and assaulting the temporary bus crew on Wednesday.
People were forced shell out huge amount for travelling in private buses and taxis. Even autorickshaw drivers cashed in on the situation, charging double the normal rates. Pilgrims who visited the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Vemulawada were stranded .
Though the RTC officials have made attempts to rope in the private drivers and conductors to operate the services, the Staff obstructed them. Tension prevailed at Miryalaguda depot as the Staff obstructed a temporary driver from taking out a bus from depot.
