Nizamabad: In a surprising move, bus operators who had been hired to drive buses during the RTC strike joined the strike themselves in the Nizamabad region. They suspended bus services in all depots in Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts on Wednesday.
Hiring private buses and drivers to run the public transport service has given much relief to the RTC management to keep the service afloat during the 18 day strike by the employees. There is no word if hired drivers from other regions will also be joining the strike. RTC staff urged the hired bus owners association to extend their support. Reacting to this, hired buses halted their operations in Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts.
District officials and police officers swung into action to get the hired bus services to operate but in vain.
RTC Nizamabad regional manager P. Soloman held an emergency meeting with police, revenue, transport and RTC officials along with hired bus operators. He made it clear that hired buses should be operated in Nizamabad region with immediate effect otherwise their agreements with the corporation would be terminated. Additional DCP M Sridhar Reddy assured police protection to the buses.
