*Stop RTC privatisation: YSRCP*

*Tadepalli, July 7, 2026: YSR Trade Union State President Poonuru Gautham Reddy demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government immediately withdraw its decision to privatise APSRTC. He alleged that the coalition government was gradually handing over the public transport system to private companies in the name of introducing electric buses. He warned that if the government failed to reverse its decision, the YSR Congress Party, trade unions and RTC employees would launch a statewide agitation. He was speaking at a press conference held at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli on Tuesday.

Gautham Reddy said the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government had strengthened APSRTC by merging it with the government and purchasing 1,459 new buses at a cost of Rs.700 crore. He said the present government was weakening the organisation and moving towards privatisation.

He alleged that the government planned to hand over 700 electric buses in 12 depots and another 1,450 buses under the Purvodaya scheme to private operators. He said this was an attempt to transfer public assets, depots and government infrastructure to private companies.

Gautham Reddy said privatisation would not only affect RTC employees but also place a heavy burden on the public. He warned that ticket fares could increase, rural services could suffer and job security for employees would be at risk. He demanded that the government hold open discussions with RTC employee unions before taking any such decision.

He urged the government to strengthen APSRTC by purchasing new buses through the corporation instead of privatising its services. If the government continued with its privatisation plans, he said the YSR Congress Party, trade unions and RTC employees would intensify protests across the state to protect public transport and public assets.