Public road transport services in Telangana were disrupted on Wednesday as Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees initiated an indefinite strike to push for their demands. The strike led to all TGSRTC buses being off the roads across the state, causing significant inconvenience to commuters, who had to resort to private vehicles for transportation. Employees, backed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions, protested outside depots, urging the government to address their longstanding issues.
With around 9,500 buses in operation, including hired and electric ones, TGSRTC serves approximately 25 lakh passengers daily in the state. Major bus stations like Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) in Hyderabad and Secunderabad wore a deserted look due to the strike. TGSRTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy appealed to the employees to return to work, mentioning the government’s willingness to address their demands gradually.
Despite talks between the JAC and a committee of IAS officers, the deadlock persisted, with the committee requesting four weeks to resolve the issues. JAC leaders emphasized that their 32 demands, including the merger of TGSRTC with the government, must be met for the strike to end. JAC Chairman Eeduru Venkanna highlighted the government’s alleged neglect of the merger issue, which was part of its election manifesto, leading to the current situation.
