The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) has demanded the cancellation of tenders inviting private operators to run 1,450 air-conditioned electric buses across the state. The employee unions have raised concerns over job security, recruitment and the potential impact on the corporation’s revenue.
According to the tender notice issued on 13 October, APSRTC has invited electronic bids from private operators to run 9-metre and 12-metre electric buses across 29 depots under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. The bidding process is scheduled to open at 10 am on 9 November and close at 5 pm on 24 November.
The employees, it is reported, were not opposed to introducing electric buses but wanted APSRTC to procure them with financial assistance from the government and operate them using its own workforce. They opposed handing over operations to private companies through dry-lease or wet-lease arrangements.
The unions questioned the need to involve private operators when APSRTC already has depots, trained drivers, mechanical staff and operational infrastructure. They also argued that handing over public assets and facilities to private entities could affect the corporation’s revenue and employees’ employment opportunities.
The JAC has also demanded the procurement of 4,000 new buses to meet rising passenger demand following the implementation of the Stree Shakti scheme. In addition, it has sought regular recruitment to fill around 15,000 vacant posts and the immediate reopening of the Vidyadharapuram, Guntur-2, Nellore-2 and Mangalam depots, which were closed earlier.
As part of their protest, employees will wear black badges while on duty across APSRTC depots and units on 22 and 23 October. The JAC will hold a meeting in Vijayawada on 26 October to decide its future course of action.
The committee has urged the state government and APSRTC management to withdraw the tenders and hold discussions with employee representatives. It has warned of intensifying the agitation across Andhra Pradesh by involving other employee unions if its demands remain unaddressed.
The JAC said protecting APSRTC, safeguarding employees’ jobs and strengthening public transport services remain its key priorities.
