Officials warn of invoking Esma

Hyderabad: Over 10,000 buses stayed in depots as the RTC staff strike took effect on Fri-day, leaving lakhs of commuters scrambling to find other forms of transport. The RTC managed to run skeletal services using 2,100 hired buses and deploying temporary drivers. Some school buses were also pressed into service.

The Joint Action Comm-ittee of RTC employee unions claimed that all 50,000 employees are participating in the strike, and were not fazed by the government’s threats to dismiss striking staff.

Ten employee unions are participating in the strike.

The government had declared the strike illegal and set a deadline of 6 pm on Friday to staff to resume duty. Officials said Essential Services Maint-enance Act (Esma) would be invoked to deal with the strike.

Transport minister P. Ajay Kumar said 2,129 RTC buses, 1,717 hire buses, 1,155 private travel buses, 1,195 school buses and 2,778 maxi cabs were deployed. With the government hiring temporary drivers and conductors to run the RTC buses, thousands of unemployed persons queued before depots. The RTC said it had hired 3,978 drivers and 2,195 conductors to run buses in 11 RTC regions. It said 5,000 buses will be made available by Sunday afternoon.

The RTC JAC announ-ced that its leaders will go on a hunger strike from Monday at Indira Park. RTC JAC convener Ashva-tthama Reddy said the campaign was being carried out across the state for resolving of their demands. On Sunday, staff will celebrate Bathukam-ma in front of bus depots. JAC leaders will meet political parties, trade student unions seeking their support to the strike. RTC workers have not received their salaries yet.