TGSRTC Employees Announce Strike from April 22 Over Unmet Demands

Hyderabad, April 2026 : Employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) have announced an indefinite strike starting April 22, escalating tensions with the state government over a range of long-pending demands. The decision was formally declared on Monday by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing the corporation’s workforce.

According to JAC leaders, the strike call comes after weeks of inaction from both the government and TGSRTC management. Despite issuing a formal strike notice on March 13, employees claim that no meaningful response or dialogue has taken place. JAC chairman Thomas Reddy said that a total of 32 demands had been submitted, but there has been little progress toward resolving them.

Among the key demands are the merger of TGSRTC with the state government, conducting long-pending labour union elections, and ensuring that employees receive salaries and benefits on par with government staff. The workers have also sought implementation of pay revisions, clearance of pending dues, and improved job security.

If the strike proceeds as planned, it could severely disrupt public transport services across Telangana. Officials estimate that more than 6,000 buses may remain off the roads, affecting the daily commute of over 60 lakh passengers. This could have a significant impact on office-goers, students, and rural commuters who heavily rely on RTC services.

The announcement comes even as Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged employees to reconsider their decision. He stated that the government is open to discussions and is actively examining key issues, including the proposed merger of the RTC with the state government through a designated committee.

The minister also highlighted that certain financial concerns are already being addressed. He noted that pending Dearness Allowance (DA) payments have been released and that the government is currently considering the implementation of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC). However, he acknowledged that two specific issues remain unresolved, though he did not elaborate on them.

TGSRTC employees have long argued that the government has failed to fulfil promises made during election campaigns, particularly regarding financial stability and institutional reforms. Their demands also include payment of dues related to the Credit Cooperative Society (CCS) and provident fund contributions.

Notably, a similar strike was averted in May last year after the government assured employees that their concerns would be addressed through a three-member IAS committee. However, with limited visible progress since then, frustration among workers appears to have intensified.

As the April 22 deadline approaches, pressure is mounting on the government to engage in constructive dialogue and prevent a large-scale disruption of essential transport services in the state.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)