Fifty year old Tirupati RTC workshop to shut down

Tirupati: RTC trade union leaders lambasted the management’s bid to close down the five decades old APSRTC regional workshop and stores which is nothing but step motherly attitude towards Rayalaseema. Protesting against the proposed move the labourers went on relay fast for the third day.

Highlights:

• The workshop was first established in 1966 by TTD and in 1975 they handed it over along with their staff and buses to APSRTC
• In 2001 also attempts were made to close this workshop
• Workers allege step-motherly treatment being meted out to Rayalaseema
• Ghat road passengers will face severe hardship in case any bus is stuck with some problem once the workshop is closed, feel leaders

All the visiting top brass of APSRTC to the workshop on several occasions have lauded the performance of the labourers here and there were instances of announcing cash rewards immediately to them. What was the motive behind toying with the idea of closing down it now, they were questioning.

They were saying that one after one the institutes or industries were going away from the district quoting the examples of Sri City, State level cancer institute and HCL campus. Now, it is the turn of RTC regional workshop. The workshop was first established in 1966 by TTD and in 1975 they handed over it along with their staff and buses to APSRTC.

Initially it was meant for TATA buses only. They were extending remarkable services to the pilgrims by supplying all spare parts as and when required without causing any trouble to them on the Ghat road. Now they are supplying spares to all the 14 depots in the district.

The employees of stores and workshop allege that with a view to close down the workshop RTC management was not filling the vacancies caused due to the retirement of some members and left the place on promotion, thus laying additional workload on them. Even though they accepted extra burden, the authorities concerned were keeping them under stress by sending feelers that the workshop will be closed soon which they claim is causing mental agony to them.

In 2001 also attempts were made to close this workshop. The Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu showed special concern then and took steps to stop such a move. The leaders of the workshop were saying that in the past it was proposed to make it a zonal workshop which was vetoed by the then Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy and it was established at Nellore on his initiative.

Though Zonal workshop was established in Nellore, Regional workshop has continued to extend its services to the 1500 and odd buses from 14 depots.The leaders expressed their worry about the Ghat road passengers who will face severe hardship in case of any bus is stuck with some problem.

If the main objection of the authorities was that it is a TATA workshop and now TATA buses are reduced significantly, they say that they can supply any spares to even Ashok Leyland buses and work on those buses. Once more than 200 employees were there and the figure gradually reduced to 87 at present. They were saying that if it is closed the 14 depots have to approach Nellore in case of any emergency.

They were getting huge support from several political and trade union leaders. YSRCP central committee member BhumanaKarunakar Reddy, Party SC cell leader Rajendra, Congress leader DMC Bhaskar, CPM district secretary Kumar Reddy, CPI city leader Chandra, CITU city secretary Chandra Sekhar Reddy, AIDWA leader Lakshmi were among those who visited their relay fast camp and expressed their solidarity.

Similarly, Employees Union state president TS Narayana, State deputy general secretary A Prabhakar Yadav, National Mazdoor Union state secretary BS Babu and Staff and workers Federation State general secretary Sundaraiah also stood behind the agitating employees in their bid to protect the workshop from closure. The leaders were planning to intensify their stir in the next two to three days.