Telangana Transport Minister Addresses RTC Employee Integration and Bus Fleet Expansion
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar provided detailed responses in the Telangana legislative assembly on Monday regarding the integration of Road Transport Corporation (RTC) employees into the state government and the revival of the recognized union within the corporation. The minister confirmed that both matters are currently under active discussion and review by the government.
Increased Demand for Bus Services
Responding to questions raised by BRS member T Harish Rao and other legislators, Minister Prabhakar acknowledged a significant surge in demand for bus services across various routes throughout the state. He attributed this increased demand directly to the success of the Mahalakshmi scheme, which provides free travel for women on public transportation.
"We are continuing to purchase new buses, and electric buses are also being introduced under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme," stated the minister. "Due to the Mahalakshmi scheme, there is a substantial demand for bus services across many regions of the state. In Hyderabad alone, we have recently commenced bus operations on 349 new routes to accommodate this growing need."
Government Commitment to RTC Employees and Services
The minister provided assurances that the Congress government is actively addressing various concerns related to RTC operations and employee welfare. He detailed several key initiatives currently underway:
- Clearing all pending arrears related to salaries, allowances, CCS dues, and PF contributions of RTC employees
- Prioritizing the promotion of RTC services, employee welfare, and passenger convenience
- Planning to scrap buses that are over 15 years old to modernize the fleet
- Reinstating 250 employees who were permanently removed from service through a three-member committee
- Empowering women's self-help groups to become owners of 600 buses
Contrast with Previous Administration
Minister Prabhakar drew sharp contrasts between the current Congress government's approach and that of the previous BRS administration. He made several allegations regarding the previous government's handling of RTC affairs:
"The previous BRS government had declared that it could no longer bear the financial burden of the RTC and had intended to shut it down," the minister stated. "They instilled fear and panic among the workforce by threatening to terminate 43,000 employees. During the previous government's tenure, not a single bus was purchased, nor were any new employees recruited. Over a period of 10 years, the RTC was systematically weakened."
Current Government Achievements
In contrast to the previous administration's record, Minister Prabhakar highlighted significant achievements under the current Congress government within just two years:
- Purchase of 2,600 new buses to expand and modernize the fleet
- Recruitment of 3,038 new employees to strengthen the workforce
- Implementation of initiatives to empower women through transportation ownership
- Development of systems to issue smart cards to beneficiaries of free travel
The government is obtaining beneficiary data from multiple sources to facilitate smart card distribution, including databases from Telangana Technology Services (TGTS), the Centre for Good Governance (CGG), self-help groups, the department of education, and the department of health.
Opposition Demands and Government Response
During the assembly session, BRS member Harish Rao pressed the government on several specific issues, demanding:
- An exact date for merging RTC employees with the state government
- Confirmation of whether Rs 9,200 crore under the Mahalakshmi scheme had been paid to the RTC
- Timeline for implementing PRC (Pay Revision Commission) for RTC employees
- Clarification on whether bus operations had decreased despite rising demand
- Details about the revival of union tradition in the corporation
"We demand that the government abandon its evasive tactics and immediately address both the legitimate demands of the workers and the critical issue of the bus shortage," Harish Rao asserted during the session.
In response, Minister Prabhakar indicated that more comprehensive details would be provided when the assembly takes up specific questions related to the merger of RTC employees with the state government. The minister emphasized that the current administration remains committed to strengthening public transportation infrastructure while ensuring fair treatment and welfare for RTC employees across Telangana.
