Division of RTC will open Pandora’s box, fear employees

Bifurcation blues continue to haunt the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), which is groping in the dark, unable to find solution to a slew of problems.

Even while fear of inheriting huge debts as part of division of the Corporation which is imminent, looms large, the alleged ‘diversion’ of the Cooperative Credit Society (CCS) funds by the management has sparked a fresh trouble, prompting the employees’ union leaders on both sides, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, to serve a strike notice to the governments.

Alleging ‘diversion’ of employee funds to the tune of Rs. 250 crore by the management, the union leaders have demanded immediate replenishment of the same to pave the way for grant of loans to the employees. Scores of applications from employees seeking loans are kept in pending for want of funds, it is learnt.

Fund allocation

The fact that the Telangana government has agreed in principle to allocate funds to the tune of Rs. 250 crore for the RTC in the ensuing budget, whereas the Andhra Pradesh government is silent on the issue has triggered unrest among the Corporation employees.

“The officials seem to have no clue about any budgetary allocation for RTC here. This is worrisome,” says APSRTC Employees Union deputy secretary Y. Venkateswara Rao.

In the past, the local RTC officials received a communication from their higher-ups that a status quo would be maintained on de-merger of the Corporation till August 31. “The stipulated date is approaching but officials seem clueless on the subject,” says Mr. Rao.

“Division of the Corporation will open a Pandora’s box. Nobody has any idea about what to be done with the Rs. 3,000 crore debts we would inherit. So is the case with distribution of RTC assets. Most of the RTC properties are in Hyderabad. The RTC will need huge funds to create similar facilities here,” says Mr. Rao.

Indefinite fast

The employees union, meanwhile, is bracing up for an indefinite fast after August 20 if the Government fails to respond to its demand to replenish CCS funds by then.