Hyderabad, April 22 (TNT): A statewide strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) began from midnight on Tuesday after talks between the government and workers’ unions failed, severely disrupting bus services and affecting lakhs of commuters across the state.
Buses remained confined to depots from the first shift, forcing passengers in major cities such as Hyderabad and Warangal to rely on private transport.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of RTC unions accused the government of adopting delaying tactics and failing to provide clear assurances on their 32 demands, including merger of RTC with the government, restoration of trade unions, and employee welfare measures.
The unions rejected the government-appointed committee’s request for four weeks to study the issues, terming it an attempt to weaken the strike.
The government, which constituted a high-level committee headed by the Transport Department’s Special Chief Secretary, appealed to employees to call off the agitation, assuring a positive approach to resolving the issues.
Ponnam Prabhakar, Telangana State Transport and BC Welfare Minister, urged workers to reconsider their decision and prioritise public welfare, while Nagi Reddy, Managing Director of TGSRTC, asked staff to attend duties, noting that some demands involve complex financial implications requiring time.
However, JAC leaders Eeduru Venkanna and Thomas Reddy made it clear that the strike would continue until all demands are met, alleging government negligence and attempts to dilute the agitation through alternative arrangements.
Meanwhile, the government explored contingency measures, including deploying rental and school buses. Heavy police deployment was seen at RTC depots across the state to maintain order.
The strike is expected to cause significant hardship to daily commuters, particularly workers, students, and low-income groups who rely heavily on RTC services.
In a separate statement, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the government had already set up a four-member committee to examine the issues and submit a report within four weeks.
He asserted that 29 of the 32 demands could be resolved immediately, while the remaining issues—merger of RTC with the government and trade union elections—require further consultation due to their complex nature.
Highlighting steps taken, the minister said pending dues such as PRC arrears and Dearness Allowance have been cleared, while Provident Fund and CCS liabilities have been significantly reduced.
He added that recruitment for 4,538 posts is nearing completion, alongside 1,134 compassionate appointments, and reinstatement of around 250 employees.
Emphasising the public impact, the minister noted that RTC serves nearly 65 lakh passengers daily, including a large number of women and rural commuters.
“A strike is not a solution. It will only inconvenience the poor who depend on RTC services,” he said, urging employees to return to work.
TNT TS
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