Leaders of the AP Public Transport Department (APPTD) Employees’ Union have demanded that the government withdraw its decision to privatize RTC depots to electric bus operators.
In separate statements addressed to senior corporation officials, the leaders urged the authorities to reconsider their decision to release Guntur-2 depot and Vidyadharapuram depot for electric bus operators and instead allot them alternative vacant government land.
The union’s state president P. Damodara Rao and general secretary GV Narasayya said that as part of the first phase of the protest against the decision, the employees will stage demonstrations on February 20 at all 11 depots where the electric buses are being introduced. They asked for a meeting with the employee unions to discuss issues related to electric buses and clarify employee concerns.
They said they were not against the introduction of electric buses in RTCs but asked the government to ensure that they are run by APSRTC with the support of the state and central governments.
The union leaders alleged that leasing RTC land at 11 depots to private electric bus operators for 12 years would be detrimental to the corporation’s future and expressed concern that the proposed Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model would cause financial loss to the corporation and adversely affect the interests of employees.
They warned that all the employee unions in APSRTC will unite and stage a sustained agitation in phases to protect the interests of the corporation and its employees if the government does not heed their plea.
Published – 17 Feb 2026 20:16 IST