The APSRTC Officers Association on Friday condemned the postponement of the board meeting in Hyderabad and sought the intervention of Governor E.S.L Narasimhan to oversee smooth bifurcation of RTC.
“It is unfortunate that the board meeting has been postponed. We request the corporation management not to yield to the pressure tactics being adopted by some sections,” said G. Srihari, general secretary of APSRTC Officers Association.
The board meeting was convened to discuss about the de-merger plan of APSRTC as directed by the expert committee appointed by Central government. The association said it was not against bifurcation, but wanted the corporation to keep the assets distribution issue pending as it had the potential to spark controversies and disputes between employees of the two States.
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There has been a standoff between the Telangana and APSRTC unions and officers over assets distribution, especially Bus Bhavan, RTC hospital at Tarnaka, body building unit at Miyapur, Transport Academy at Hakimpet, guest house at Hyderguda, Chairman’s bungalow at Mettuguda, three staff quarters at Mettuguda, officers quarters at Kacheguda, Kalabhavan at Baghlingampally.
There are apprehensions that APSRTC would be sanctioned Bus Bhavan, RTC hospital at Tarnaka and the body building unit at Miyapur in line with the de-merger plan and this is not acceptable to the APSRTC Officers Association. “We want assets to be distributed in the ratio of 58.32: 41.68 between the two States in line with the A.P. Reorganisation Act,” demanded Mr. Hari.
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Everyday 935 buses from different locations in Andhra Pradesh are operated to Hyderabad. There is a need to have at least three depots to ensure proper facility for diesel top-up in buses, maintenance and drivers rest houses. TSRTC can cut the cost of three depots from the share that would be sanctioned to APSRTC, he suggested.
Similarly, an advance booking facility for APSRTC buses should be provided at Mahatma Gandhi Bus station for rent as provided to KSRTC and other corporations. To address all these issues the corporation management should take all the unions and associations into confidence and convene meetings, he demanded.