Hyderabad: Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar today said the State government has given a deadline to the striking TSRTC employees to end their indefinite strike which began from Friday midnight. The government also warned the employees with termination if they fail to join their duties by 6 pm on Saturday. “Even in the future, under any circumstances, they will not be treated as RTC employees,” the minister added.
The TSRTC employees were demanding merger of the corporation with the State government after the Andhra Pradesh government took a decision and merged the APSRTC employees with the government. Spelling out the alternative arrangements being made in view of the strike, the minister said the government has decided to evolve a permanent alternative transport policy to ensure convenience for the public. He also said the government was working out a strategy to run the TSRTC by hiring 3000 to 4,000 private buses and recruiting new staff. Route permits will also be given to nearly 7,000 private buses. However, the protesting TSRTC employees seem undeterred by the warning from the authorities. “Our strike is legal. We don’t fear these warnings. We are united and ready to face the consequences,” a TSRTC leader said.
The buses of the TSRTC went off the roads across the State as employees began an indefinite strike from Friday midnight to press for their demands. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at bus stations across the State and people traveling to their destinations for Dasara and Bathukamma festivals faced severe inconvenience as over 10,000 buses remained confined to the bus depots.
However, the merger demand and strike of the RTC staff began on Saturday only to cause a lot of inconveniences as there are no buses. After the government warning to dismiss the staff and replace them with others, the RTC staff participated in the strike on the first day. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who returned from Delhi on Friday night, held a review on the strike and warned of serious action against those who participated in the strike
The government claims to have plying about 3000 private buses for employees and the general public ran from pillar to post to reach their respective destinations. On the other hand, Metro Rail services proved handy for some while rains at some other places added to the woes of people and road users. (NSS)
