In wake of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) strike, which began in the wee hours of Wednesday, police deployed additional forces at all bus stations to prevent any untoward incidents.
Employees of tthe APSRTC went on strike as the talks between the union leaders and the Government failed. Thousands of passengers were stranded in bus stations at Vijayawada, Guntur, Gudivada, Eluru and other terminals since Tuesday midnight as buses went off roads due to the strike.
At Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS), passengers entered into an argument with the officials demanding running of services. Commuters staged protest at other bus terminals and urged the RTC officials to run buses.
The bus drivers, conductors and other staff had an argument with the contract employees who tried to attend for duties at the PNBS. “This is a flash strike. There is no prior intimation to the commuters on the APSRTC strike. How can the Corporation management suspend services immediately?” questioned a passenger V. Amarendra, waiting for the bus to go to Hyderabad.
Police pacified the passengers who expressed anger against the APSRTC workers on strike. The commuters raised slogans demanding to arrange transportation for them.
“We are on a pilgrimage to Tirupati and in the return we got struck at Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) in Vijayawada. Since Tuesday night, about six families were stranded here. The APSRTC has not arranged alternative transportation causing severe inconvenience,” said a pilgrim M. Parvathi of Bhimavaram.
