The Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD-APSRTC) Employees’ Union has issued a firm ultimatum: the government must release the long-awaited Government Order (GO) on pending promotions by Deepavali 2025. This demand comes amidst growing frustration among the workforce.
In a joint statement, union leaders P. Damodar Rao, the State president, and G.V. Narasayya, the general secretary, warned of state-wide protests if their demands are not met. They emphasized that failure to deliver on promotions by the festival of lights would leave them with no choice but to escalate their agitation.
According to the union, the journey for these promotions began with persistent employee demands. This led the APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director to submit proposals to the government for approval. Even the Transport Minister and other high-ranking departmental officials endorsed these proposals, forwarding them to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who himself greenlighted the promotions on August 28, 2025.
Despite these approvals, the crucial Government Order remains stalled at the General Administration Department (GAD). This bureaucratic holdup means approximately 6,000 dedicated RTC employees are still stuck in a seemingly endless wait for their deserved career advancements.
Beyond promotions, the union also highlighted the immense pressure faced by RTC staff, particularly drivers and conductors of the ‘Stree Shakti’ buses. These workers are grappling with severe overcrowding and an alarming rise in attacks by unruly passengers. The union leaders expressed deep concern over these incidents, calling on authorities to implement immediate and effective measures to protect their workforce. They pointed out that despite challenging conditions and resource limitations, staff are diligently striving to make the free travel scheme a success, only to be met with abuse and physical assaults.
Furthermore, a crucial demand is the immediate addition of new buses to the APSRTC fleet. This expansion is deemed essential for the efficient and safe operation of the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme. The union warned that without swift government action, the already difficult working conditions for RTC employees would become unbearable, especially as the summer months approach.