Hyderabad: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has called for urgent corrective action and directed officials to review the performance of loss-making TGSRTC depots, including those in Khammam, Medak, Rangareddy, Narayankhed, Banswada, and Yellandu. He also asked them to identify operational inefficiencies to restore financial stability.
High-Level Review Meeting
The directive came during a high-level virtual meeting with senior RTC officials, attended by Managing Director (MD) Nagi Reddy, along with executive directors, regional managers, heads of departments, and depot managers. The review followed recent discussions between Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and RTC workers' unions, where several employee-related concerns were raised.
Focus on Administrative Conduct
Focusing on administrative conduct, Ponnam instructed officials to maintain a supportive and respectful approach toward drivers, conductors, and other staff. He stressed that workplace harassment or coercive practices must be avoided, and that a positive, cooperative environment should be ensured at all levels of the organisation.
Service Delivery Improvements
On service delivery, depot managers and staff were directed to strengthen engagement with passengers and maintain a professional and courteous interface. The minister set May 17 as the deadline to upgrade essential facilities across depots and bus stations, including sanitation, drinking water availability, greenery, and overall cleanliness.
Accountability and Internal Conflicts
To strengthen accountability, Ponnam warned against internal conflicts within the organisation, describing them as harmful to operational efficiency. He instructed officials to take immediate action in cases of ticketing-related disputes and emphasised that staff altercations would not be tolerated.
Grievance Redressal Mechanism
As part of systemic reforms, the minister mandated the establishment of a monthly grievance redressal mechanism in every depot, to be conducted on the second Tuesday of each month. Depot managers and relevant officials are required to be available to directly address staff concerns.
Coordination with Public Representatives
He also called for improved coordination with public representatives, directing depot managers to maintain active engagement with local leaders, including sarpanches, MLAs, and MLCs, to resolve issues effectively at the grassroots level.
Pending Administrative Matters
Pending administrative matters, including shop allotments, are to be cleared by June, while issues related to unused government land must also be addressed without delay. The minister assured that unresolved concerns at lower levels would be escalated to the MD for timely resolution.
Mahalakshmi Scheme Implementation
Referring to the implementation of the Mahalakshmi Scheme introduced on December 9, 2023, Ponnam reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening RTC operations while continuing to address long-standing demands raised by employees during previous agitations.
