Harish Rao Alleges Neglect of RTC Workers, Flags Dues and Privatisation Concerns

Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister T. Harish Rao has said his party will take up the concerns of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees in the upcoming Telangana Assembly , accusing the Congress government of neglecting workers and weakening the state-run transport organisation. His remarks came after RTC Joint Action Committee (JAC) leaders met him and submitted a memorandum detailing the problems faced by employees and retirees.

Responding to the delegation, Harish Rao assured the union leaders that BRS will strongly raise RTC workers’ grievances in the Assembly and press the government to address them urgently. He alleged that while employees have been demanding measures to strengthen RTC and ensure its stability, the present administration is moving in a direction that could gradually open the door for privatisation of public transport services .

Rao particularly criticised the government’s approach to expanding electric mobility in the state transport system. He claimed that agreements have already been signed with private companies to supply nearly 2,000 electric buses , raising concerns among workers that private operators may gain increasing control over the sector. According to him, RTC employees are not opposing the shift to clean transport but want the central government subsidies for electric buses to be routed directly to RTC so the corporation can procure and operate the buses on its own.

The former minister also expressed concern over the financial strain on RTC , especially due to delays in reimbursements for welfare schemes. Under the free bus travel scheme for women , the government had promised to reimburse the corporation around ₹350 crore every month , but Rao alleged that payments have not been released fully or regularly. As a result, he said, the corporation has been forced to absorb the financial burden, worsening its already fragile financial condition.

Harish Rao further highlighted that two Pay Revision Commissions (PRCs) for RTC employees remain pending, and the promised 2025 PRC has not yet been implemented. The delay, he said, has added to the financial stress faced by workers. Retired employees are also reportedly struggling, as interest payments on deposits in the RTC Credit Cooperative Society have not been released for nearly 23 months .

He also criticised the delay in implementing the RTC merger with the state government , a decision taken during the previous BRS administration. According to Rao, the government has not yet announced the official “appointed day” , which is necessary to implement the merger and extend benefits such as promotions and job security to employees. Pointing to staff shortages and increased workload on drivers and conductors, he said the situation is affecting employee welfare and service efficiency.

Harish Rao said the BRS will continue to stand with RTC workers and raise their concerns forcefully in the Assembly until the government addresses the corporation’s financial and administrative challenges.