The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD-APSRTC) Employees’ Unions has strongly opposed the operation of electric buses through private operators under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model.

At a regional executive meeting held on Tuesday at the National Mazdoor Union (NMU) office in Rammohan Bhavan, near Maddilapalem bus depot here, the JAC warned that handing over operations to private entities is a stepping stone to the phased privatisation of the state-run transport corporation.

Privatisation fears

Addressing the gathering, JAC state conveners Y. Srinivasa Rao and Palisetti Damodara Rao expressed concern that operating electric buses via private agencies under the GCC system would completely shift the State’s emerging electric public transport network into private hands by 2029.

“This would lead to the gradual privatisation of the APSRTC by 2030,” they said.

“While the government claims it has no intention of privatising the corporation, its actions suggest otherwise,” the leaders said.

They demanded a firm and clear assurance from the government that the procurement, operations, and maintenance of all electric buses will be handled directly by APSRTC using its own staff, rather than being leased out to private agencies.

Reopening of Depots and Fleet Expansion Demanded

To protect the public transit system and address long-pending worker grievances, the employee unions put forward several key demands. Primary among these is the immediate restoration of four key bus depots that were recently closed to accommodate private electric bus operations.

Additionally, the JAC has demanded the immediate purchase of 4,000 new buses to handle the surge in passenger traffic driven by the State’s `Stree Shakti’ (free travel for women) scheme, alongside immediate recruitment to fill over 10,000 vacant posts across various departments to ease the heavy workload on existing staff.

Phase-Wise Protest Action Plan Announced

Frustrated by the lack of progress in talks with the administration, the JAC announced the schedule for the second and third phases of their statewide agitation.

JAC members will meet public representatives, including MLAs and ministers, across the State to submit memoranda detailing their grievances and seeking support, during July 14 – 19, 2026.

A massive signature collection drive will be conducted among APSRTC employees statewide, during July 20 – 26, 2026.

The collected signatures and representations will be formally submitted to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during the weekly Grievance Day programme, on July 27, 2026.

The JAC will convene a crucial meeting in Vijayawada to review the response and outline the third phase of their statewide protest programme, on July 30.

The meet saw active participation from leaders and representatives of major transport employee unions, including the NMUA, Employees’ Union (EU), Staff and Workers Federation (SWF), and Karmika Parishad, along with a large number of active members.