*Chandrababu’s goal is to sell APSRTC: YSR TUC*

Tadepalli, Oct 5: YSR Trade Union Congress State President Poonuru Gautham Reddy said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is systematically weakening APSRTC with the ultimate objective of handing it over to private players. Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office, he said Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had safeguarded RTC employees by merging them with the government, while the present government has kept nearly 15,000 posts vacant, reduced the number of buses and is projecting losses to justify privatisation.

He said APSRTC depots and routes are gradually being handed over to private operators in the name of electric buses, while drivers and conductors are now proposed to be engaged through outsourcing. The on-call driver system, he said, puts passenger safety at risk by diluting medical tests, driving-skill assessments and experience standards required for regular RTC drivers.

Gautham Reddy questioned why RTC land, electricity, infrastructure and deposits should be provided to private companies when APSRTC itself can operate electric buses with Central incentives. He also sought answers on relaxation of tender conditions, splitting of tenders and reducing driver-experience requirements to two years.

He demanded immediate recruitment to vacant and backlog posts, purchase of new buses, withdrawal of the on-call system and an end to privatisation of depots, routes and RTC assets. He warned that YSR TUC would launch a major agitation with employees and the public if the government failed to reverse these measures.