The strike has hit commuters hard, especially in Adilabad, Nirmal, Kumram Bheem, and Mancherial districts, where buses remained confined to depots. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
6 lakh buses go off roads in Telangana as RTC workers launch strike; commuters hit
Indefinite strike by 38,000 TSRTC employees cripples transport across Telangana, leaving five lakh daily commuters stranded as over 6,000 buses stay off the roads
Bus services across Telangana ground to a halt on Wednesday (April 22) as thousands of State Road Transport Corporation employees launched an indefinite strike after marathon talks with the government collapsed.
The walkout by 38,000 Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) staffers has crippled daily transport for nearly five lakh passengers, with over 6,000 buses pulled off the roads. Workers gathered at depots and intersections, waving placards and banners to press their demands, leaving commuters stranded across the state. Buses were not seen at the Jubilee Hills bus depot as well.
Discussions were held on Tuesday between union representatives and a government appointed committee.
Workers’ Demands
Key demands of the employees include:
Merging RTC with the state government
Conducting labour union elections
Implementing salary structures and benefits on par with government employees
Revising wages and clearing pending payments, including provident fund contributions and cooperative society dues
Government response
According to a report in The Times of India, TSRTC managing director Y Nagireddy said a committee of IAS officers has been formed to examine the demands in detail.
Also read: From Noida to TN, why are workers striking across India? Here's what they want
He noted that some issues are “financially complex” and may take at least “four weeks to resolve”. They need time to review the demands and resolve them, he said. Nagireddy also alleged that certain unions were misleading workers by pushing for the strike despite ongoing efforts to address concerns.
Impact on Passengers
The strike has hit commuters hard, especially in Adilabad, Nirmal, Kumram Bheem, and Mancherial districts, where buses remained confined to depots.
Reports said police personnel were deployed at the gates of the depots to prevent untoward incidents. Villagers were seen waiting at bus stations since early morning, many forced to trek long distances only to find no buses available.
With public transport unavailable, residents turned to private vehicles such as autorickshaws, tractors, and jeeps, paying steep fares. Wealthier passengers hired cars and vans, while women beneficiaries of the Congress government’s free travel scheme expressed frustration at the financial burden caused by the strike.
Security Measures
Police have been deployed at bus depots to prevent untoward incidents. In some areas, local police officials requested outsourced drivers to operate buses to reduce the adverse impact of the strike. Meanwhile, passengers across the state voiced displeasure over the inconvenience, urging the government to intervene quickly.