Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday, 2 November, set 5 November as the deadline for TSRTC (Telangana State Road Transport Corporation) employees, who have been on strike from 5 October over various demands, to give up their stir and join duty.
He said the state cabinet decided to allot 5,100 of 10,400 routes (around 50 percent) to private operators and warned that the other routes would also be given to them if those on strike don't join duty by the midnight of 5 November.
Clarifying that only 'loss-making' routes would be given to private operators, Rao said the Centre would be informed about the state government's decision on allotting routes as was laid down in their new guidelines.
“I appeal to the RTC employees to take this opportunity, keeping in view the welfare of their families. We want to give them (striking employees) one more chance.”Telangana CM KCR
"If the employees do not join duty unconditionally in three days, that is 5 November midnight, the other routes will also be given to private operators," he said in a media briefing after the Cabinet meet.
He said there would be a transport commission to regulate the private operators so that the passengers were not fleeced.
The chief minister further said the cabinet had decided not to merge the RTC with the government, a key demand of the employees.
He blamed opposition parties and union leaders for allegedly instigating the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation employees.
Employees and unions of the bus corporation started the indefinite strike from 5 October across Telangana, demanding merger of the RTC with the government and recruitment to various posts, among others.
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