In a surprise move and surpassing Andhra Pradesh Government by one per cent, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekahr Rao today announced 44 per cent of fitment to the striking RTC workers against the demand of 43 per cent in the state. The 44 per cent fitment will burden the state exchequer Rs 821 crore every year, he said.
Addressing a crowded press conference at Secretariat here amid applause from the RTC staff, KCR also declared that all the 4,300 contract employees in the corporation will be regularized from May 14. The Chief Minister while saying that there will be a little hike in charges, stated that steps will be taken to make the loss making RTC to run into benefits. With this, the strike will be called off and the workers will resume duties from now.
KCR stated that arrears will be given in three installments by Dasara and Deepavali and next April or Dasara, besides issuing some bonds. Since the workers are being less paid, the hike will satisfy them, he said denying regularization of outsourcing employees citing lacunae coming in the way.
The RTC is paying Rs 180 crore interest towards the accumulated loss of Rs 1,387 crore while incurring heavy loss of Rs 400 crore, KCR stated. This is due to inefficiency of the previous governments and the TRS Government will revamp the RTC structure and make reforms and bring in amendments in the Act to ensure that the organization gain profits. Declaring that the retired RTC staff will avail free journey facility in ordinary and express buses, he stated that the GHMC will bear the burden of Rs 200 crore subsidies being given in the twin cities.
Accusing the Centre of failing to share the losses in the RTC as per 67 and 33 per cent ratio, the chief minister declared that he will take up the issue at Delhi level to take over the RTC to make it a state owned unit. If necessary we will take over the RTC if the Centre is ready to disown its 33 per cent share, he said adding that the previous congress government did not even seek the Central share on losses. Despite taking benefits from Singareni and RTC, the Centre is not ready to bear the losses incurred, he alleged.(NSS)