Source : PTI | Hyderabad, The indefinite strike by the employees of Telangana State RTC entered its second day on Thursday, forcing passengers to rely on private transport.
The employees held protests at several places in support of their charter of 32 demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.The Road Transport Corporation tried to operate private buses and electric buses to cater to the demands of the public.
Passengers who reached the bus stations had to wait for long time to catch a bus. Some of them, while speaking to the media alleged that private vehicles, including autos, were charging heavily in view of the unavailability of buses.
Opposition BRS leaders extended support to the striking employees, demanding that the government accede to their demands.
Observing that RTC buses are the lifeline of poor people, former BRS MLA Methuku Anand, who attended the protest at Tandur in Vikarabad district, criticised the ruling Congress for not implementing the merger of the Corporation with the government.
Only about 25-30 per cent of buses could be operated on April 22 due to the strike, RTC sources said.
Noting that 65 lakh people use the RTC buses every day, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar had urged the employees to call off their strike.
He also alleged that BRS MLA T Harish Rao was attempting to show RTC in a bad light through the strike.
Assuring that the government is not opposed to 29 of the total 32 demands raised by the employees, he said technical issues need to be sorted with regard to the two major demands of RTC’s merger with the government and elections to the recognised unions of the corporation.
The leaders of the RTC employees on Tuesday night announced a strike after talks with a panel of bureaucrats failed.
Officials had sought four weeks to submit a report to the government on the demands of the employees, after which the government would respond, a JAC leader said.
The 32 demands of the employees include pending wage revision and the merger of RTC with the government.
The RTC employees had said the government’s scheme of free travel for women succeeded because of their efforts.
Stressing that the government is positive about addressing the concerns raised by the employees, RTC MD Y Nagi Reddy on April 21 said the government needed at least four weeks as the demands have financial implications.
