The deadlock over the sharing of RTC assets between both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is not something new. However, TDP leader Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu’s fresh salvo against the ruling YSRCP government has brought the issue to the fore. It is known that CM YS Jagan had fulfilled his electoral promise having issued an official notification merging Andhra Pradesh’s Road Transport Corporation (RTC) into the state government. The RTC Unions and employees too had welcomed the move by the AP CM, with contract workers expressing happiness that they would now have job security. On the other hand, considering the government policies in the matter of leasing RTC assets looks like the ruling party is trying to seize them.
On a 50-year lease
Senior TDP leader Ayyanna Patrudu has alleged that the state government is planning to lease RTC assets located in major commercial hubs of Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Kurnool and other cities for a span of 50 years. He added that efforts are on by the government to hand over nearly 1300 acres of assets belonging to the RTC on an immediate basis to private players while expressing concerns over the latter returning the land after such a long time. The TDP leader took a dig at YS Jagan’s double mindset of extending the long lease from 33-years to 50-years. It is known that Jagan while in the opposition had strongly criticized then Chandrababu Naidu led TDP regime’s decision to lease RTC land for 33-years. Ayanna even questioned the attitude of the present ruling government, as to whether their calculations changed or whether they forgot the allegations made earlier.
