Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Appeals to RTC Unions to Withdraw Strike Call

Hyderabad: Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, issued a formal appeal to the employees and labor unions of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), urging them to withdraw their proposed strike. Emphasizing that the government’s “doors are always open” for dialogue, the Minister stated that a strike at this juncture would not only cause significant public inconvenience but also hamper the corporation’s ongoing financial recovery.

Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Minister Prabhakar clarified that major demands regarding the merger of TGSRTC with the state government and the recognition of trade unions are already under active consideration by a dedicated committee. He noted that the merger process, initially set in motion in late 2023, was delayed due to successive election schedules and the Model Code of Conduct, but the current administration is committed to a thorough study of the legal and fiscal implications. Aside from these two specific jurisdictional matters, the Minister affirmed that the government is prepared to discuss all other employee grievances immediately.

Highlighting the welfare measures already implemented by the Congress-led government, Prabhakar pointed out that a 2.1% Dearness Allowance (DA) was recently credited, ensuring no DA arrears remain pending. He further revealed that the implementation of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) for RTC staff is currently under high-level consideration. On the financial front, the Minister shared that the government has successfully reduced Provident Fund (PF) dues from ₹1,205 crore to ₹600 crore and Credit Cooperative Society (CCS) dues from ₹690 crore to ₹300 crore.

The Minister underscored the success of the Mahalakshmi free travel scheme for women, noting that it has revitalized the corporation, with over 90 depots now reporting profits. To support this growth, the government has introduced 2,978 new buses and provided jobs to 1,134 individuals through compassionate appointments. Warning that a protest could jeopardize these gains, Prabhakar requested the unions to prioritize the interests of the 1.4 crore passengers who rely on RTC services daily and resolve all pending issues through mutual understanding rather than agitation.