RTC strike troubles students, passengers, MD apologises

Hyderabad: RTC MD N. Sambasiva Rao said the timing of the strike by the unions was wrong, given the exams and summer vacations. RTC officials asked union members for 40 days but the unions were firm on going on strike.

“The talks have failed with the authorities. The indefinite strike will begin from tonight,” said Ashwathama Reddy of Telangana APSRTC Mazdoor Union.  “The RTC is incurring a daily loss of Rs 14 crore which goes in payment of interest of the Rs 4,000 crore loan, although there are no operational losses.

We apologise to the passengers for the inconvenience,” the MD said.  All RTC unions had jointly served a strike notice on April 2 to the authorities, demanding speedy bifurcation of the bus corporation as well as announcement of a fitment hike of 43 per cent. Earlier last month, around 20,000 RTC workers had laid siege on Bus Bhavan in Hyderabad to press for their demands.