Public transport employees’ union demands recruitment of staff, new buses

Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (AP PTD) Employees’ Union on Friday urged the State government to approve recruitment of 10,000 staff and purchase 3,000 new buses for smooth implementation of the promised free bus travel scheme for women from August 15 in the State.

Speaking at a dharna organised at Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada as part of a State-wide protest, the Union’s State president P. Damodar Rao raised concern over the “inordinate delay” in implementing promotions of the employees. He said 3,000 RTC employees were eagerly waiting for promotions for the last six years and urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to approve the same.

He also urged the government to appoint 12th Pay Revision Commission and announce Interim Relief for the employees.

The Union’s zonal secretary Y. Srinivasa Rao said that the electric buses proposed to be procured by the government should be operated by the AP PTD staff. He also asked the government to release the pending 24 months arrears under the 11^th PRC and arrears of DA.

The Union’s State secretary T.V. Bhavani demanded immediate payment of gratuity and leave encashment for the retired and deceased employees of the department and also revival of the medical facilities through referral hospitals, as was provided prior to the merger of the APSRTC with the government.

The Union’s State secretary and State Maintenance Committee convener N.C.H. Chakravarthi, organising secretary S.K. Mohiddin, NTR district secretary Sagar, Vijayawada depot secretary Radhakrishna and others participated.