Hyderabad: It appears that people who are somewhat well-off and based in the city are quite cool about the ongoing strike by RTC employees. One major reason could be the availability of Metro and MMTS trains as well as hired and private buses in place as part of alternative arrangements made by the State government.
People from most of the conservative families have already reached their native villages to celebrate Dasserah using whatever transport system available to them. As for other Hyderabadis, they are mostly students and are not coming out on roads as they are enjoying Dasserah vacation with video games.
Appi Reddy, a private firm employee who stays in Uppal, said that at one point he used to travel by RTC buses regularly. However, of late he has been travelling by Metro. Though its fares are higher than RTC bus fares the system is more comfortable.
He felt that the impact of RTC strike could be felt after reopening of schools and colleges. Most students may not travel by Metro trains. Those who regularly travel by buses and have passes are refusing to buy tickets. Students who travel by hired and private buses now may not buy tickets from temporary conductors, resulting in a friction between RTC temporary employees and students, Osmania University student leader Manavatha Roy said.
The impact of RTC strike would definitely be seen after Dasserah holidays in and beyond Hyderabad. Ramana, employed in a private firm in Somajiguda, said that he was spending Rs.100 additionally now due to RTC strike as he had been travelling by Metro. RTC buses were coming now and then. “Waiting at bus stops during strike days is nothing but killing time badly.
The buses are coming now and then and are collecting more than usual. So, I am travelling by Metro trains. But Metro is taking extra pennies when compared with buses. It will definitely impact my home economy at the end of the day,” he said. The RTC employees launched their strike on October 5th demanding that the state government must merge RTC with government.
Authored by Mohammed Hussain, mohammedhussain.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @writetohussain