Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao has renewed his call to the RTC Employees Union leaders to come for talks and put forth their demands before the Cabinet Sub Committee.
Even as the strike entered third day, the Minister claimed that 58 per cent of bus services were operated on Friday, the day 2.55 lakh students appeared for the Eamcet examination in 13 districts and in Hyderabad.
Expressing relief that the crucial Eamcet exam passed off peacefully as every one - Collectors, Joint Collectors, RDOs, District police authorities, Transport Department officials and private college managements cooperated and made alternative arrangements by sending buses to far flung areas on Thursday night itself to transport students to exam centres.
More drivers to join
He said 4,934 buses plied on Friday in 13 districts and another 2,000 more drivers joined on Friday. They were being screened and by Saturday more than 60 per cent services would be operational, he said.
The RTC employees unions should realise that they were losing public sympathy by going on strike at the peak season marked by entrance, recruitment tests and marriages and subjecting common people and students to hardships, Mr Raghava Rao said.
APSRTC MD N.Sambasiva Rao said similar alternative arrangements would be made for 4.5 lakh candidates appearing for DSC examination from May 9 to 11. Thanks to cooperation of various departments, more percentage of students appeared for Eamcet on Friday than ever, he said.
RTC employees unions should realise that they are losing public sympathy by going on strike at the peak season marked by entrance, recruitment tests and marriages.
Sidda Raghava Rao
Transport Minister
