Normal life in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana was thrown out of gear for the second day today after employees of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) continued with their strike for hike in salaries.
Office-goers and normal passengers had a tough time after APSRTC buses stayed away from roads, though alternative arrangements had been made.
APSRTC employees protested at different places in the two states, demanding a 43 per cent hike in their salaries.
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They tried to prevent buses from being operated by temporary staff brought in by the APSRTC management to run bus services with police escort.
Incidentally, the APSRTC is yet to be divided between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana following bifurcation last year.
The APSRTC is the major public transport company which operates more than 20,000 passenger buses in both the states.
APSRTC buses cover about 79.83 lakh kilometres and carry 156.78 lakh people to their destinations everyday.
APSRTC Managing Director N Sambasiva Rao told PTI that about 38 per cent of bus services were operated until evening and the number would go up further by the end of the day.
Highlighting the huge demand for bus services due to the ongoing exams, the wedding season as well as forthcoming competitive exams, he appealed to protesting APSRTC employees to stop their strike and resume duties.
Rao said that the Andhra Pradesh state government has appointed a cabinet sub-committee to hold talks with striking APSRTC employees and added that employees should come for talks as well as approach the issue in a cordial manner.
He urged school and engineering college managements to run buses free of cost for as many as 2.50 lakh students scheduled to take the Engineering, Agriculture, Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) tomorrow.
