
Approve pending promotions: transport staff union to A.P. govt.
The union's State president P. Damodar Rao and general secretary G.V. Narsayya, along with Andhra Pradesh JAC-Amaravati chairman Bopparaju Venkateswarlu, submitted a representation in this regard to Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Muddada Ravichandra.
They said nearly 3,000 RTC employees have been awaiting promotions for over six years. Citing nearly 11,000 vacancies in the department, they said the government should permit APSRTC to recruit staff and purchase new buses to improve the public transport infrastructure.
Their other demands included payment of arrears for 24 months under the 11th Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and clearance of the pending gratuity and leave encashment of retired employees. They also wanted the government to operationalise the Retired Employees Medical Scheme (REMS) and requested NTR Trust CEO to formalise its procedures and guidelines.
Seeking alternative employment to staff declared medically unfit, they wanted the officials to initiate the pending appointments on compassionate grounds without further delay. They also sought job security for the outsourced workers in the department.
Insisting on immediate implementation of the 12th PRC, they demanded that the authorities announce an interim relief immediately.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
27 minutes ago
- Hans India
Andhra Pradesh to roll out free RTC bus ride for women from Aug 15
Amaravati: The TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh will launch a free travel scheme for women in Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses from August 15. At a meeting with officials on Monday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to issue 'zero fare tickets' to women passengers under the scheme set to be implemented from August 15. The ticket must include details such as the route travelled, the amount of money saved through the free service, and the full 100% subsidy the government provides. The Chief Minister stated that issuing 'zero fare tickets' would help women passengers clearly understand the benefit they are receiving. He instructed officials to develop the necessary software for this purpose. He discussed the financial aspects of the scheme in the other states where it has been implemented and what it might cost in Andhra Pradesh. He directed that the scheme must be implemented effectively from August 15 under all circumstances. In view of the implementation of the scheme, the Chief Minister asked APSRTC to explore alternative revenue sources and reduce operational costs to become a profitable entity. He directed officials to come up with an action plan on the possible revenue-generating methods and the necessary policy changes. The Chief Minister instructed officials to purchase only AC electric buses in the future. He noted that converting existing buses to electric buses would reduce maintenance costs and recommended that the required electricity be produced in-house. He also emphasised the need to study the establishment of charging stations in all RTC depots across the state. Free bus travel for women was one of the 'Super Six' promises made by the Telugu Desam Party-led alliance in last year's elections. There was no clarity whether the scheme would be applied within the district, as stated by the Chief Minister a few days ago. Addressing a meeting in Srisailam two weeks ago, the Chief Minister had stated that women can travel free in the district in RTC buses from August 15. The opposition parties have accused the coalition government of going back on the promises made in the elections. YSR Congress Party alleged that the government has betrayed women after promising free travel across the state.

The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh to roll out ‘Zero Fare Tickets' for women from August 15
Drawing on the financial strain witnessed in other States that rolled out similar welfare schemes, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has taken a calibrated yet determined approach as the State gears up to launch its ambitious free RTC bus travel initiative for women from August 15. At a review meeting held at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Monday, Mr. Naidu directed transport officials to issue 'Zero Fare Tickets' to all women passengers under the scheme. Each ticket will not only validate the free journey but also detail the travel route, the exact subsidy amount borne by the government, and the amount saved by the passenger. 'The aim is to make women clearly aware of the economic benefits they receive from this initiative,' the Chief Minister said, adding that the ticket itself should serve as a tangible representation of the government's support. To ensure transparency and accountability, the Chief Minister ordered the development of specialised software to capture and display all financial benefits directly on the ticket. Sustainability However, mindful of the budgetary implications, the Chief Minister held extensive discussions with officials on how such schemes have impacted the fiscal health of other States. He underscored the importance of avoiding delays in implementation but stressed that the long-term sustainability of the APSRTC must remain a priority. With the financial well-being of the APSRTC in sharp focus, Mr. Naidu laid out a broader vision for sustainable operations. He called for immediate steps to identify alternative revenue streams, cut operational costs, and draft a comprehensive profitability plan. In a progressive move, he announced that only AC electric buses would be procured going forward. He also proposed converting existing buses to electric models to reduce maintenance costs and setting up of charging infrastructure at all RTC depots. He floated the idea of in-house power generation to support the green fleet, a step aimed at long-term energy security and self-reliance. 'This transition is not just about cost savings, but also about building a sustainable and self-reliant public transport system,' he added. It may be recalled that the free bus ride for women in RTC buses is one of the promises made under Super Six as a run-up to the general elections in 2024. The scheme, while inspired by the goal of empowering women and promoting inclusive growth, comes with the awareness of pitfalls experienced elsewhere. Andhra Pradesh's strategy, however, combines welfare with fiscal prudence — striving to avoid the economic burdens that have beleaguered similar initiatives in other States. As the State readies for the August 15 rollout, all eyes are on how Andhra Pradesh balances social welfare and economic sustainability, setting what could be a new benchmark in public transport policy.


Hans India
11 hours ago
- Hans India
CPM alleges ‘massive' scam
Vijayawada: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPM – on Sunday staged a vigorous protest and dharna in Vijayawada, accusing the state's coalition government of a massive scam in the alleged gifting of valuable public land to the Lulu Group. The protest specifically targeted the reported move to hand over the old APSRTC bus stand land in Vijayawada to the large corporate entity. CPM leaders Ch Babu Rao and D Kasi Nath, along with other party members, participated in the agitation, raising slogans against what they termed a 'conspiracy' to privatise RTC and undermine small and medium-scale traders in favour of big corporations. The core of the protest revolves around the alleged allocation of five acres of the old RTC bus stand land, valued at Rs 400 crore, to Lulu Mall. Addressing the gathering, Babu Rao and Kasi Nath sharply criticised the government's actions. 'Betraying the people of Andhra and pledging their lands and public assets to foreign companies is an act of treachery,' they stated. They dismissed the claim that Lulu Mall would create hundreds of jobs, arguing it was 'inhumane' to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of small traders in the process. The CPM also raised concerns about the alleged gifting of a Rs 25 crore municipal land in Brindavan Colony to the Raghavendra Math, stating that 'Vijayawada is gradually being put up for sale.' They questioned if 'wealth creation' meant handing over government and public wealth to foreign corporations. They deemed it illegal for the government to forcefully acquire public land for metro and other public transport systems in Vijayawada, while simultaneously giving away RTC lands at 'dirt-cheap prices' to multinational corporations. They urged the public to mobilise for the protection of public assets and called on the government to reconsider and withdraw its proposals to allocate land to the Lulu Group. CPM leaders Boyi Satyababu, B Ramana Rao, P Krishna, K Durga Rao, and EV Narayana were present.