The transport strike in all the 10 districts of Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh and non-cooperation of a major chunk of State Government employees in all these districts barring Hyderabad, has affected normal life.
The bandh call of transporters, including the State-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, and rasta roko (road blockade) in some other parts of the State has crippled the movement of major chunk of general population. Schools and colleges remained closed.
The APSRTC could not ply even a single bus out of a large fleet of 10,000 buses across 89 depots in the region. National Highways and State roadways were also blocked impacting the traffic flow.
There were instances of sporadic violence in the twin cities at Osmania University campus and Nizam College after agitating students were lathi-charged. The Telangana Joint Action Committee has called for a general strike to press for demand for separate State.
TEAMS
Taking stock of the day's developments, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, today announced the constitution of two separate task force teams to manage power supply position and transport facilities in the State.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, officials were told to constantly review and maintain power with least disturbances and to ensure alternate transport arrangements for the public.
The other task force on transport has been mandated to maintain and ensure transport facilities to the public.
Reviewing the ongoing strike by employees in the Telangana with the Group of Ministers and senior officials at Secretariat today, the Chief Minister issued instructions to the officials to make alternative arrangements to minimise hardship to the public, particularly poor in the wake of strike. He stressed the need to ensure essential supplies.
The Railways was requested to increase the frequency of MMTS (multi-modal transport system) and local train services to facilitate movement of people. The transport department was asked to issue permits to tourist and private vehicles to run in the Telangana areas to help the commuters.