Live
- Chanchalguda Jail Officials Say They Haven't Received Bail Papers Yet, Allu Arjun May Stay in Jail Tonight
- BJP leaders present evidence of illegal voters in Delhi, urge EC for swift action
- Exams will not be cancelled: BPSC chairman
- Nagesh Trophy: Karnataka, T.N win in Group A; Bihar, Rajasthan triumph in Group B
- YS Jagan condemns the arrest of Allu Arjun
- Economic and digital corridors to maritime connectivity, India and Italy building vision for future, says Italian Ambassador
- SMAT 2024: Patidar's heroics guide Madhya Pradesh to final after 13 years
- CCPA issues notices to 17 entities for violating direct selling rules
- Mamata expresses satisfaction over speedy conviction in minor girl rape-murder case
- Transparent Survey Process for Indiramma Housing Scheme Directed by District Collector
APSRTC employees up in arms against govt
The Employees Union of the APSRTC has decided to oppose the GO brought out by the Andhra Pradesh government, exempting drivers of stage carriages from the need of possessing a conductor certificate.
Hyderabad: The Employees Union of the APSRTC has decided to oppose the GO brought out by the Andhra Pradesh government, exempting drivers of stage carriages from the need of possessing a conductor certificate.
In some long distance buses the drivers of stage carriages perform the duties of a conductor as well. Though this practice in not entirely new to the RTC, the employees unions are now opposed to making it a rule, rather than an exception.
The Transport department has issued GO MS. No.8 dated February 7, 2015, incorporating the rule 72-A which says “Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 72, the drivers of stage carriages performing the functions of conductors shall be exempted from possession of conductor’s licence…”. The Stage Carriage Permit allows holders to service an area with a specific route and specific number of trips.
The GO further provides that for the driver to act as conductor in a Stage carriage, it is enough if he had passed 7th standard. A certificate in First-Aid and training for a period of three days in the operation of issue of tickets through ticket issuing machine, are the other two conditions he needs to fulfill, to qualify as a conductor.
However, according to in-charge General Secretary of APSRTC Employees’ Union, P. Damodar Rao, a driver doubling up as conductor, severely compromises the crucial aspect of passenger safety. “RTC is mainly patronised by passengers for its key feature of safety.
RTC gets national award for safety year after year. If the driver has to perform the conductor’s duties at the same time, his focus on driving will be affected. This in turn, can lead to accidents”. The three-day training cannot be equated to that of a qualified conductor, the EU leader claimed. Conductors possess a licence, which is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The leaders of Employees Union will shortly call for an emergency meeting and plan their course of action. They are getting ready to conduct protest demonstrations at all RTC depots across the state. Rao said they will also take the reservations of drivers over the GO, to minister Sidda Raghava Rao.
When contacted, a senior official of the Transport ministry refused to comment, saying that it was a policy decision taken at the highest level and only the minister can speak. On being pressed for a response, the senior official said he is too busy with the Budget preparation exercise for the ministry.
