The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) has strongly alleged that the state government is implementing a phased plan to privatize APSRTC. The JAC accused the government of weakening the public transport corporation by handing over depots to private companies under the guise of introducing electric buses. Calling the move an attempt to benefit large corporate groups at the expense of a public sector organization, the JAC demanded that the government immediately withdraw its privatization plans and announced the second phase of its statewide agitation.
The JAC leaders also stated that they would submit the agitation schedule to the Chief Minister, the APSRTC Vice Chairman & Managing Director, and the Chief Secretary on Monday.
JAC Slams Government Over Handing APSRTC Depots to Private Operators
The Employees’ JAC alleged that the government is gradually dismantling APSRTC by transferring government-owned assets to private operators in the name of electric bus operations.
According to the JAC, the government’s strategy is to weaken the public transport corporation while allowing profitable operations to be controlled by private corporate companies. The unions argued that APSRTC has been serving the public for decades as a government-owned organization and should be strengthened instead of being privatized.
Four Depots Already Handed Over, More Planned
The JAC claimed that four APSRTC depots have already been completely handed over to private operators for the maintenance and operation of 1,050 electric buses being introduced in the state.
In addition, nearly 50 percent of the land in eight other depots has reportedly been allocated to private companies.
The employee unions further alleged that the government is preparing to hand over another 29 depots for the operation of an additional 1,450 electric buses in the coming years.
‘Entire APSRTC May Be Privatized by 2029,’ Warns JAC
The Employees’ JAC expressed concern that the ongoing decisions indicate a long-term plan to hand over all APSRTC depots to large corporate entities by 2029.
According to the unions, the government’s policies are aimed at weakening the public transport corporation while benefiting private companies. They warned that if these decisions are not withdrawn immediately, statewide protests would be intensified.
Second Phase of Agitation Announced
As the government has not responded to their earlier demands, the APSRTC Employees’ JAC has announced its second phase of protests.
July 7–8
Protests and demonstrations will be held at all APSRTC depots across the state against the alleged privatization.
July 9–18
Employees will meet public representatives and submit memorandums requesting them to protect APSRTC from privatization.
July 19–26
Employees will wear white badges and stage protest programs at the Chief Minister’s office, APSRTC depots, and bus stations.
July 27
Memorandums will be submitted to the government through District Collectors at depot offices across the state.
July 30
A state-level JAC meeting will be held in Vijayawada to review the situation and announce the next course of action.
Key Demands of the Employees’ JAC
The APSRTC Employees’ JAC has put forward the following demands:
- Immediately cancel the decision to hand over APSRTC depots to private companies under the electric bus initiative.
- Abandon all plans to privatize APSRTC.
- Strengthen APSRTC as a public sector transport corporation and safeguard employees’ job security.
- Stop transferring public transport services into the hands of private corporate operators.
Will the APSRTC Privatization Dispute Intensify?
The issue of transferring APSRTC depots to private companies under the electric bus initiative has once again sparked political and labour unrest in Andhra Pradesh.
While the Employees’ JAC alleges that four depots have already been fully handed over, eight others partially allocated, and another 29 depots are being prepared for private management, it has also claimed that the government is working toward complete privatization of APSRTC by 2029.
The government’s response to these allegations is now being closely watched. At the same time, the impact of the JAC’s second phase of statewide agitation is expected to become a significant political and public issue in the coming weeks.
