Why Telangana govt urged RTC employees?

Hyderabad, June 09: The Telangana State Transport Minister T Mahender Reddy on Friday said the government will constitute a committee to study the functioning of road transport corporations in other States and their financial conditions.

While speaking to reporters after holding talks with RTC unions over the proposed strike, Mr Reddy said the committee to be set up in consultation with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and it will submit its report after studying corporations in other states.

The Chief Minister had already asked the unions to call off the proposed strike from June 11 and cooperate with the government, he said that at present, TSRTC had total debts of around Rs 3,000 crore.

Though the RTC is incurring an annual loss of Rs 700 crore, the Chief Minister gave 44 per cent fitment, he said that out of the 97 RTC depots, only 11 were making profits while 54 were gradually reducing losses.

He also appealed to the RTC unions to call off the strike, stating that it would affect the public transport system and impact its 53,000 employees.

Reddy asked the unions to think about the government's proposal on constituting a committee and invited them for another round of talks on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Telangana Mazdoor Union said if the government hands over the RTC management to its employees, they will ensure positive results in four years. He demanded that the government procure new buses and clear the debt.

RTC Chairman Satyanarayana, MD Ramana Rao, Principal Secretary Sunil Sharma and other union leaders attended the meeting.