APSRTC Employees Escalate Agitation Over E-Bus Privatization

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation employees' unions JAC is intensifying its protest against government plans to lease out depot lands and operate electric buses via private contractors. Unions demand that APSRTC directly manage the new electric bus fleet, recruit 10,000 new workers, clear pending salary dues, and announce the 12th Pay Revision Commission. Representatives recently held unsuccessful talks with top transport officials, leading to a decision to begin a signature campaign and continue the agitation through late July.

Special Chief Secretary M.T. Krishna Babu dismissed privatization claims, stating that all assets and employee positions remain secure. He highlighted that the current approach follows the nationwide PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, which utilizes a Gross Cost Contract model to manage operations. The state has finalized contracts for 750 of the 1,050 sanctioned electric buses, aiming to complete a full transition from diesel vehicles to air-conditioned electric units by 2029 under the AP SEMP 4.0 program.

The JAC plans to submit a collective petition of signatures to the state's Chief Minister on July 27, 2026, during the scheduled Grievance Day programme. A major state-level meeting is set for July 30 in Vijayawada to determine if the protest action will expand further. The conflict between union demands for direct state control and the administration's reliance on private partnerships remains the primary obstacle to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing labor dispute.