Buses went off the roads in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from the early hours of Wednesday on a call given by the majority unions of State-owned road transport corporation, putting commuters to immense hardship on a hot day.
The call was given by A.P. State Road Transport Corporation-Employees Union (APSRTC-EU) and Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) seeking immediate bifurcation of corporation and a 43 per cent fitment in basic pay of crew. The management set a deadline of May 14 to respond to the demand on bifurcation but turned down such a big pay hike because the corporation’s financial health simply did not allow it.
The MD of the corporation N. Sambasiva Rao asked the striking staff to reconsider continuing the agitation.
Mr. Rao told the media that only 1,218 of the scheduled 11,282 services (10 per cent) in AP and 350 out of 10,705 buses (3 per cent) could be operated. He warned that the services of about 6,000 drivers on contract would be terminated if they did not report for duties by Thursday afternoon. Those who joined duties would be rewarded with regularisation of service.
“The timing of the strike is at the peak of operating season with weddings and holidays.
Most importantly, it comes at a time when an estimated two lakh students would take EAMCET,” he said. Meanwhile, the TS Government has issued an order giving permits to private buses to carry passengers in the city on payment of Rs.100 per day. And in all the districts, the RTA has arranged about 650 private drivers and 750 conductors to run RTC buses in the State.