Leaders of recognised employees’ 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 raised during a Joint Staff Council meeting held at the State Secretariat in Amaravati on Friday with Special Chief Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings, and in-charge Public Transport Department Commissioner and APSRTC Managing Director M.T. Krishna Babu. Representatives of the APSRTC National Mazdoor Unity Association (NMUA) and APSRTC Employees Union (EU) participated in the meeting.

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

The representatives appealed to the management to address the difficulties faced by employees in ticket issuance under the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme and demanded stringent action against attacks on RTC staff. They also sought welfare measures for mechanics.

Among other demands, the unions called for replacement of outdated Ticket Issuing Machines, establishment of RTC hospitals in newly formed district headquarters, and implementation of Circular No. 01/2019 relating to employee job security.

Mr. Krishna Babu reportedly assured the unions that employees need not worry about privatisation and said their concerns would be brought to the notice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He also informed them that committees comprising Executive Directors would be constituted to examine issues relating to employee welfare, promotions, medical facilities and other service matters.