The RTC unions are against the transition to handing over electric buses to private operators

Difficulties faced by employees due to ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme of free travel for women need to be addressed, says APSRTC employees’ union. | Photo credit: File Photo

Leaders of Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD), National Mazdoor Unity Association (NMUA) and APSRTC Employees Union have demanded that the state government immediately withdraw its policy of allowing private operators to run electric buses in the corporation.

NMUA State President Y. Srinivasa Rao, APSRTC Employees’ Union State President P. Damodara Rao said in a statement on Wednesday that though the employee unions have repeatedly urged the government and APSRTC authorities to utilize the subsidy offered by the central government to purchase electric buses and run them directly through RTC employees, their demands have been ignored.

They alleged that not only electric buses but also prime land belonging to RTC depots were given to private operators on lease.

The unions decided to pursue a united movement, saying that such moves could pave the way for privatization. Several long-standing issues in the corporation need to be resolved, including the difficulties faced by employees over the ‘Stree Shakti’ free travel scheme for women.

A meeting of all employee unions and associations that existed in APSRTC before its merger with the government will be held in Vijayawada on June 8. Leaders said a Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising all RTC unions would be formed to launch a united agitation on issues affecting the corporation and its employees.

Pointing out that the APSRTC has served thousands of people for decades as a public sector undertaking, they expressed concern that the government’s decision leading to privatization was causing apprehension among employees.

Published – 03 Jun 2026 21:06 IST