Hyderabad – The ongoing indefinite strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) entered its second day on Thursday, causing inconvenience for passengers who are compelled to rely on private transport. The employees have been protesting at various locations in support of their charter of 32 demands, with a primary focus on the merger of TGSRTC with the government.
In an attempt to address the public’s needs, the corporation has tried operating private buses and electric buses; however, passengers have reported long wait times at bus stations. Some individuals, speaking to media outlets, accused private vehicles, including autos, of charging exorbitant rates due to the scarcity of buses.
Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders voiced their support for striking employees, urging the government to address their demands. Former BRS MLA Methuku Anand, who attended a protest at Tandur in Vikarabad district, criticized the ruling Congress for failing to implement the merger of the corporation with the government.
According to RTC sources, approximately 25-30 percent of buses were operational on April 22 due to the strike. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar had appealed to employees to end their strike, citing the daily use of TSRTC buses by around 65 lakh people. He also accused BRS MLA T Harish Rao of attempting to tarnish the reputation of TSGRTC through the strike.
Assuring that the government is not opposed to 29 of the total 32 demands raised by employees, Prabhakar indicated that technical issues need to be resolved regarding the two major demands: TSGRTC’s merger with the government and elections for recognized unions in the corporation. The leaders of the RTC employees announced a strike following failed negotiations with a panel of bureaucrats on Tuesday night. Officials have sought four weeks to submit a report to the government on the employees’ demands, after which the government will respond, according to a JAC leader.
The 32 demands of the employees include pending wage revision and the merger of TSGRTC with the state government.
