Hyderabad: Ahead of Dasara TSRTC strike from October 5

Hyderabad: Instead of stepping up RTC services to meet the peak demand occasioned by Dasara and Bathukamma festivals as well as the vacation for educational institutions, employees of TSRTC seem to be on a collision course with the state government. They have declared their firm intention to go on “indefinite strike” from October 5 to press for their long-pending demands, including merger of RTC with the Government.
THE STRIKE The strike will prove to be a major jolt to the public as RTC bus services are much sought-after, with private players keen on raking in the moolah during the peak season. At a time when even the railways are mulling the introduction of additional trains with all tickets for festival travel already exhausted, the least people expect from RTC is to chip in at least in respect of routes where rail travel has become impossible due to the rush.
RTC DEMANDS WITH THE STATE GOVT. NOT IMPLEMENTED Still, the Joint Action Committee of RTC employees of Telangana has decided to observe strike from October 5 if their main demand of merger of RTC with the State government is not implemented. Although RTC workers had served strike notice a month ago, there has been no response from the management till date.
Considering that the government is now in by-election mode, they seem to ready to ‘strike’ while the iron is hot. Private bus operators are known to make a killing during such times by doubling or even tripling fares. All RTC trade unions had served strike notice on the management, with a 25-point list of demands.