APSRTC unions are against the privatization of electric buses

Leaders of recognized employee unions in APSRTC met Special Principal Secretary for Transport, Roads and Buildings MT Krishna Babu at his office in Amaravati on Friday. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT

Officials of recognized employee unions in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) have urged the government to operate electric buses through the corporation itself with government support instead of moving towards privatisation.

The demand was made during a Joint Staff Council meeting held at the state secretariat in Amaravati on Friday with Special Principal Secretary for Transport, Roads and Buildings and Acting Commissioner of Public Transport Department and APSRTC Managing Director MT Krishna Babu. Representatives of APSRTC National Mazdoor Unity Association (NMUA) and APSRTC Employees Union (EU) attended the meeting.

Union leaders urged the government to stop handing over valuable RTC assets to private operators in the name of rolling out electric buses. They also sought measures to strengthen the ‘Stree Shakti’ system by introducing 3,000 new buses and filling up 10,000 jobs to ease the workload of existing staff and improve passenger services.

The representatives appealed to the management to address the difficulties faced by the employees while issuing tickets under the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme and demanded strict action against attacks on RTC employees. They also sought welfare measures for mechanics.

Among other things, the unions demanded the replacement of outdated ticket offices, the establishment of RTC hospitals in the newly established district directorates and the implementation of circular No. 01/2019 regarding the safety of employees.

Mr. Krishna Babu reportedly assured the unions that employees need not worry about privatization and said that their concerns would be conveyed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He also informed them that committees consisting of executive directors would be set up to look into issues related to employee welfare, promotion, medical facilities and other services.

Published – 22 May 2026 21:37 IST