TGRTC drivers stage protest in Mancherial over breath analyser tests

TGRTC bus drivers in Mancherial boycotted duties and staged a protest alleging partiality by officials and faulty breath analyser machines. The flash strike disrupted transport services, forcing passengers to depend on private vehicles while drivers demanded replacement of old analysers and reinstatement of a colleague.

Mancherial: TGRTC bus drivers boycotted duties and launched a protest against what they alleged as partiality of the officials and malfunctioning breath analysers, after one of the drivers tested positive for alcohol. The flash strike led to disruption of public transport services in the district on Monday.

A bus driver Rajamallu was reportedly found to have recorded a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 54 mg per 100 ml as against permitted 30 mg when officials conducted breath analyser test on him on May 9. He was not allowed to drive. Another driver was also reportedly tested positive for drunk driving with a BAC level of 70 mg. However, he was permitted to discharge duties, triggering a protest against partiality of the officials.

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The drivers struck work from 4 am on Monday, demanding that officials allow Rajamallu to drive and also against the breath analysier tests. They alleged that the officials were showing partiality towards certain drivers.

The agitating drivers and leaders regretted that the old breath analyser machines were showing positive results due to technical glitches. They expressed concern that they were forced to pay fines based on results given by faulty analysers. They demanded the government to replace the machines with new ones.

Following the protest passengers were forced to rely on private vehicles, cabs and auto-rickshaws shelling out huge amounts on fares. They urged the government to take steps to address the problem and to restore the services at the earliest. Mancherial depot operates a fleet of 200 buses including hired ones.