The management of Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has claimed that it was able to run some buses in both the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the second day of employees’ strike on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference here, RTC Managing Director N Sambasiva Rao said till 2 PM on Thursday, about 38% buses in Andhra Pradesh and 14-15% in Telangana were operated using contract drivers and contractors and drivers of other departments like police. He said special arrangements were being made to provide transportation to the students appearing for EAMCET on Friday across AP. He also advised the students and their parents to work out on some alternates to get closer to the exam centres.
Sambasiva Rao also appealed to the RTC staff to join duties in view of EAMCET exam. He said their strike should not be viewed as anti-society by the people.
The RTC MD exhorted contract drivers and contractors to join the duties and assured them that they would be given preference in regular appointments if they held the corporation in critical times.
He said that the management was willing to hold talks with the employees and it also agreed to provide 27% fitment allowance by increasing the bus fares by 15 per cent. He also dismissed reports that appointment of contract drivers was unsafe as one accident has been reported from Khammam district. He said the contract drivers were not new, but experienced. (INN)