Telangana RTC Strike Called Off; Buses Resume Saturday
The breakthrough came during a crucial session at the Secretariat, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
Hyderabad: The Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Friday night called off its indefinite strike after marathon talks with the government at the Secretariat, bringing relief to commuters across the state. Bus services are set to resume from Saturday morning. The strike, which began on April 22 in support of 32 demands, had entered its third day on Friday before a breakthrough was reached close to midnight.
The crucial meeting between the JAC and the group of ministers (GoM) led by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka commenced around 4 pm and continued for over seven hours. During the discussions, RTC employees’ unions strongly pressed for the fulfilment of all their demands. The government agreed to resolve 31 out of the 32 demands, while seeking more time to address the lone pending issue of implementing Pay Revision Commission (PRC) scales, citing the significant financial burden it would place on both the corporation and the state exchequer.
The employees had also demanded the merger of TGSRTC with the government, along with the implementation of the 2021 and 2025 PRC recommendations. Talks on three key issues — merger of RTC, PRC implementation, and reinstatement of employee unions abolished during the previous BRS regime in 2019 along with conducting elections for recognised unions — were held in detail.
Earlier in the day, a team of senior IAS officers held preliminary discussions with the employee representatives, which was followed by the extended talks involving ministers. Besides Bhatti, minister Ponnam Prabhakar, D. Sridhar Babu, G. Vivek Venkatswamy and Adluri Laxman participated in the negotiations.
Bhatti said the ministers had been preoccupied with the ongoing Budget session, delimitation of constituencies, the women’s reservation Bill and elections in other states. He also expressed concern over the death of RTC employee during the agitation, terming it an unfortunate and irreparable loss to the bereaved family.
With the resolution of most demands and assurance on the remaining issue, the JAC decided to withdraw the strike, paving the way for normalcy in public transport services across Telangana.
Earlier, the state government announced a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the family of TGSRTC driver Kola Shankar Goud who succumbed to his attempted to die by suicide. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his deep shock and grief over the RTC driver's death. In a statement, the CM assured that the government will stand by the bereaved family.
Narsampet revenue divisional officer (RDO) Umarani announced that the state will provide ₹10 lakh financial assistance, a job to one eligible family member in the RTC, and allotment of an Indiramma house.
Narsampet MLA Donthi Madhava Reddy announcing an additional ₹5 lakh from his personal funds. This brings the total ex-gratia for the family to ₹15 lakh.
Officials said the deceased driver, who had served for 25 years, was the sole breadwinner of the family. He did not own a permanent house, leaving his wife Hemalatha, daughter Shamili and son Hemanth in a precarious situation.
Protesters, including family members and RTC union leaders, had initially refused to allow the last rites of Shankar Goud. The assurance of ex-gratia, job and housing, conveyed through the district administration played a crucial role in de-escalating the tension and allowing the funeral to proceed in the evening.
