Hyderabad: Transport minister P. Ajay Kumar late on Friday night disbanded the three-member committee that was negotiating with RTC employees and workers, and said only those who report to duty by 6 pm on Saturday would continue to be treated as employees and the rest would be dismissed.
The Joint Action Committee of worker and employee unions remained firm on starting the strike at midnight on Friday. Their main demand is merger with the government.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao cut short his Delhi tour on Friday night and asked the committee to resume discussions with the RTC staff but to no avail.
He also called a meeting of all ministers and MPs available in the city, and instructed them to make alternative arrangements to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced during the festival. Mr Rao ordered a 25 per cent rebate to private tour operators to ensure that more buses are on the roads. Earlier, RTC JAC convener Ashvatthama Reddy said about 52,000 employees are expected to strike work and 10,356 buses would go off the roads. RTA Commissioner Sunil Sharma said over 2,100 buses and 3,000 drivers had been hired. Another 12,000 buses belonging to private schools would be deployed to meet any extra demand.
Ola and Uber were advised not to hike ride charges.
More metro trains from today to deal with RTC agitation
The Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) will run additional trains from Saturday to deal with the extra rush of passengers anticipated following employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation going on an indefinite strike from Friday midnight.
HMRL authorities said metro trains will run extra services commencing 5 am onwards from Saturday, with the last train leaving the terminal stations at 11.30 pm and reaching their destinations at around 12.30 am. The frequency of metro trains will be increased to three minutes during peak hours and five minutes or as required during non-peak hours.
HMRL MD N.V.S. Reddy said additional ticket counters, machines and the manpower will be commissioned at busy stations. Senior officers will oversee operations at important stations like L. B. Nagar, Ameerpet, Hitec City, Secunderabad East, Parade Grounds and so on to manage the crowds.
