APSRTC unions demand cancellation of private electric bus tenders

Vijayawada: The APSRTC employees’ unions JAC has demanded the state Government to cancel tenders awarded to private operators for the operation of electric buses and instead procure and operate the buses through the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).

The JAC leaders on Thursday submitted representations to the offices of the chief minister, chief secretary, transport minister, special chief secretary (Transport, Roads and Buildings), and APSRTC incharge MD MT Krishna Babu, urging the government to reverse its decision.

Addressing the media, JAC conveners Y Srinivasa Rao and Palisetti Damodara Rao expressed concern that the move to entrust electric bus operations to private agencies was part of a gradual privatisation process that could undermine the future of the state-run transport corporation. They alleged that valuable RTC depot lands were also being handed over to private operators under lease arrangements without consulting employee unions.

Warning of intensified protests if their demands are ignored, the JAC announced a series of agitation preparatory conferences across the state from June 16 to 20. The conferences will be held in Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Nellore, Tirupati and Anantapur, covering employees from all four RTC zones.

The leaders also demanded the reopening of the Vidyadharapuram, Nellore-II and Guntur-II depots, which they claimed were vacated for electric bus operators, and opposed any move to vacate the Mangalam depot. Such actions, they said, would weaken APSRTC and accelerate privatization.

As part of the protest programme, RTC employees across the state will wear red ribbons while on duty and organise gate meetings and demonstrations at all depots and units on June 23 and 24. A state-level meeting of the RTC Employees’ JAC is scheduled to be held in Vijayawada on June 28 to chalk out the next phase of agitation, the JAC leaders added.