Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) employees’ union officials say the existing fleet and manpower are not sufficient to sustain the Stree Shakti plan in the long run. | Photo credit: File photo
Leaders of the Employees’ Union (EU) of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) have urged the authorities to address the key issues affecting the employees and the effective implementation of the Stree Shakti programme.
In separate statements submitted to RTC Chairman K. Narayan Rao and Vice Chairman and Managing Director Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao on Tuesday, the union’s state president P. Damodar Rao and general secretary GV Narasayya said the existing fleet and manpower were inadequate to sustain the plan in the long run.
They pointed out that drivers and conductors were under a lot of pressure as many buses were overcrowded, carrying 100 to 150 female passengers, well beyond their capacity. “Under such conditions, conductors are penalized or even suspended by depot managers for minor irregularities detected during inspections,” they said, calling for an end to this punitive approach.
Leaders stressed that at least 3,000 additional buses and 10,000 new employees needed to be introduced to ensure smooth operations. They requested that these matters be discussed at the RTC Council meeting on Wednesday and that urgent remedial measures be taken.
Referring to the long-standing financial and administrative grievances of RTC employees, they urged the chairman to take up the matters with the state government. Their demands include settlement of pending financial and non-financial matters, release of dues related to the abolished Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme (SRBS) and Staff Benevolent Thrift (SBT) fund, payment of 46 days of outstanding overtime wages and overnight allowances, release of Employee Pension Fund (EPF) contributions, completion of Contributory Pension Fund (PSP) levies for employees transferred to appointments, provision of employment to a family member of employees who were declared medically unfit, reinstatement of medical care on referral as many were not receiving adequate care under the Employees Health Scheme (EHS), and allocation of office space along with restoration of all benefits and concessions to recognized unions within the company.
The union leaders also appealed to the government to immediately reimburse around ₹250 crore per month incurred by the corporation on free bus travel for women under the Stree Shakti scheme.
They said the programme, which was launched on August 15 as part of the TDP-led coalition government’s Super Six initiatives, has received wide acclaim. To ensure its success, RTC officials and staff worked tirelessly. However, they warned that the failure to release funds on time made it difficult for the corporation to continue operations smoothly.
They reiterated their plea to settle the outstanding installments of Stree Shakti and ensure timely monthly payments to sustain the scheme and ease the financial pressure on the company.
Published – 04 Nov 2025 20:37 IST
