Botcha promises to regularise 9,000 RTC employees this year

• Staff told to avoid accidents
• Seven drivers with no accidents in 30-year service felicitated

Providing respite to discontented RTC Unions, Minister for Transport Botcha Satyanarayana gave assurances to regularise 9,000 employees by the end of this year.The Minister, who took part in the concluding ceremony of the APSRTC's Accident Free Week at RTC Kalabhavan, declared that the remaining employees will be regularised next year.

Describing the Rs 380 crore Motor Vehicle (MV) tax exemptions as the proof of government's support to the Corporation, he pointed out that there was a need for the organisation to become self-sustaining in all means. He said that the government was taking all steps to ensure welfare of its employees.

However, he expressed displeasure over the several accidents that RTC was accounted for. While hoping to bring down the loss in terms of ex-gratia, the minister suggested the Corporation to take up accident insurance in accident-prone areas. He awarded seven drivers, who had driven the buses without an accident for more than 30 years of service.

Chairman M Satyanarayana Rao, who presided over the function, asked the employees to get inspired from the drivers who were awarded. Managing Director AK Khan asked the employees to bring down the number of accidents which had surged in the recent months.