TGSRTC strike halts bus services across Telangana

The indefinite TGSRTC strike disrupted public transport across Telangana, halting most bus services and affecting nearly 60 lakh commuters. Limited hired services failed to meet demand, while the government initiated talks and temporary measures to manage the crisis.

Hyderabad: Public transport services across Telangana came to a near standstill as employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) began an indefinite strike from midnight Tuesday after talks to resolve their long-pending demands with the government failed.

Bus operations were largely halted at depots statewide on Wednesday, with most vehicles remaining off the roads. Police personnel were deployed at several depots to maintain order as employees continued protests, vowing to intensify the agitation until their demands were met.

In Hyderabad, the impact was immediate and severe. Though the government arranged a limited number of hired buses, they fell short of commuter demand. Commuters across the city and districts faced major disruptions, with many forced to depend on costly private transport or walk long distances.

At key locations like Dilsukhnagar and Lakdi-ka-pul, passengers were seen struggling for public transport, while reports of auto drivers charging higher fares surfaced. At Uppal depot, only a handful of buses operated out of the scheduled services, and by morning, most trips stood cancelled. Major hubs like Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS), Jubilee Bus Station and Rathifile Bus Station also saw either no or minimal activity.

The disruption hit nearly 60 lakh daily commuters, including students, workers and employees, particularly during peak morning hours.

However, limited services continued from select depots including Secunderabad, Ibrahimpatnam, KPHB, Uppal and Dilsukhnagar, with some buses operating on key routes. All electric and hired buses, and other services including Super Luxury, remained functional and were operated by hired drivers.

TGSRTC Managing Director Y Nagi Reddy said the government was open to resolving the issues and had formed a committee of IAS officers to examine employee demands, noting that some issues may take up to four weeks to resolve.

Meanwhile, the TGSRTC Supervisors’ Association distanced itself from the strike, welcoming the government’s initiative and expressing hope for a resolution.

RTC authorities have also begun hiring temporary drivers and conductors to ease the crisis. Fresh talks between the government and unions are also likely.