The Hindu Business Line : Give up strike move, APSRTC unions told

THE Chairman of AP State Road Transport Corporation (RTC), Mr G. Prakasa Rao, has termed the move to go on strike by RTC unions as unjustified in view of the concessions announced recently by the State Government and appealed to them not to go ahead with the strike.

He said at a press meet here on Monday that the reduction in motor vehicle tax and reimbursement of concessions extended to various sections amounted to Rs 400 crore. Besides, Rs 160 crore assistance had also been announced.

The Telugu Desam Party Government, during its nine-year-rule, had not conceded the plea for reduction in motor vehicle tax and failed to reimburse concessions, said Mr Rao. "The strike will push RTC into further trouble and it may suffer the plight of loss-making units such as Allwyn and Ajam Jahi mills," he said.

Mr Rao wanted the remaining revenue deficit of about Rs 100 crore to be made good by curbing the practice of carrying passengers by lorries and the illegal operation of private vehicles.

The Home and Transport Department and the RTC had been asked to work out a strategy to control illegal operations, which could help mop up an additional Rs 200 crore.

However, the Government did not concede the demand for sales tax relief since a demand for the same could be raised by other sections, said Mr Rao. He promised job security to the 1.2 lakh employees.

The Chairman agreed to consider the request for more Volvo (air-conditioned, luxury) buses in view of the 93-per cent occupancy ratio, the highest in the State.

The Executive Director, Mr Damodar Das, said more Volvo buses would help RTC compete with private operators and exploit the potential to cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad and Tirupati from Visakhapatnam.

The RTC Regional Manager, Mr D. Satyanarayana, said the rural division stood first in the State by registering the highest revenue growth of 27 per cent.

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Give up strike move, APSRTC unions told