Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar skips meeting with Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan

Hyderabad: With no signs of the TSRTC strike being called off and various trade unions, political parties and social organisations getting ready to make the bandh on Saturday a success, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan called Minister for Transport Puvvada Ajay Kumar to Raj Bhavan to know the steps being taken by the government in resolving the RTC deadlock.

This was the first time that the new Governor had asked a Minister to apprise her of the developments.

But the minister skipped the meeting saying that he was busy in a review meeting with the Chief Minister and instead sent Special Chief Secretary (Transport department) Sunil Sharma to Raj Bhavan to brief the Governor.

Official sources said that the Sharma rushed to Governor and submitted a status report on RTC mainly on the financial situation and the difficulties faced by the government to run the debt-ridden Corporation.

The Governor asked the government and RTC management to take all necessary steps for providing alternate transport arrangements to avoid inconvenience to common man.

She said that she has been receiving several representations from the political parties and organisations on the RTC strike. Sunil Sharma detailed the Governor about the arrangements made by the State Government and RTC management.

He said that more than 9,000 buses were running now and TIMS (Ticket Issuing Machines) Machines are used for issue of tickets to prevent collection of higher charges from passengers after nearly 48,000 employees boycotted their duties since October 5.

Sources said that Tamilisai was serious on the government for not resolving the issues even after the High Court pulled up the TS government on RTC strike.

She enquired about the efforts being made by the government to resolve the issue before the deadline of October 18 (Friday) set

by the court.