Date:28/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/28/stories/2008052859420300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Hiring of private buses: RTC union stages dharna

Special Correspondent

Management urged to give up the move to call tenders to run hired buses

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakha region unit of the APSRTC National Mazdoor Union staged a dharna in front of the Regional Manager’s office here on Tuesday as part a State-wide agitation asking the management to withdraw the tenders called to hire private buses on 532 routes. “The management must drop the proposal to invite tenders to run hired buses on 82 routes in the region and remove the existing private buses,” said State joint secretary P.V. Appa Rao.

The private buses taken on hire were not only causing losses to the APSRTC but also denying employment to the eligible persons and promotions to the employees. Workers and leaders from different parts of the district and city participated in the dharna.

Privatisation feared

Later, addressing a public meeting, Mr. Appa Rao said a Cabinet sub-committee consisting of Kanna Lakshminarayana, Konathala Ramakrishna and Jakkampudi Rammohana Rao had committed in writing in the past to completely withdraw hired buses but more hired buses were being introduced in phases. This would lead to indirect privatisation of APSRTC, he said.

The hired buses would weaken the organisation and in due course of time would be in a position to dictate terms to the RTC.

The organisation would also lose its Guinness Book of World Record of having highest number of buses if hired buses were introduced on its routes, Mr. Appa Rao said.