1 day ago
APSRTC On-Call Drivers Spur Safety and Punctuality Concerns
APSRTC does not have enough regular bus drivers.
Many regular drivers have retired or are unable to work because of age or health problems.
So, the corporation hires some drivers day by day.
There are about 4,000 such on-call drivers in Andhra Pradesh.
Sometimes buses are cancelled when these drivers are not available.
People are worried that some temporary drivers may not have enough experience with passenger buses.
One on-call driver allegedly hit and killed a 70-year-old woman near Aspari.
Officials say they test the drivers and settle accident compensation through Lok Adalats.
APSRTC is relying on about 4,000 daily-wage on-call drivers across Andhra Pradesh.
Driver shortages linked to retirements, health issues and absent recruitment have disrupted services.
Critics question whether basic testing ensures sufficient passenger-bus driving experience.
A speeding on-call driver allegedly fatally struck a 70-year-old woman near Aspari.
APSRTC officials defend testing procedures and say accident compensation is handled through Lok Adalats.
- Who
- APSRTC, its regular and on-call drivers, depot officials, passengers and accident victims.
- What
- APSRTC's growing use of daily-wage on-call drivers is raising concerns about safety, vehicle maintenance and service punctuality.
- Where
- Across Andhra Pradesh, including depots in Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur; the fatal crash occurred near Aspari in Kurnool district.
- When
- The dependence is currently reported; a vehicle-headlight complaint occurred two months before the report.
- Why
- Regular-driver shortages caused by retirements, age or health issues and a lack of recent recruitment have increased reliance on temporary drivers.
Safety and Reliability Concerns
APSRTC Operational Defense
Driver experience and testing
Safety and Reliability Concerns
Critics question whether a basic test and roughly one-and-a-half years of licence vintage demonstrate enough experience to operate passenger buses.
APSRTC Operational Defense
Kurnool regional transport manager M. Srinivasulu says APSRTC conducts all required tests before engaging on-call drivers.
Use of temporary drivers
Safety and Reliability Concerns
The growing dependence on daily-wage drivers is associated with cancelled services, punctuality concerns and passenger-safety risks.
APSRTC Operational Defense
A senior Kadapa region official says on-call drivers are necessary because regular-driver recruitment has not taken place for some time.
Accident compensation
Safety and Reliability Concerns
The family of P. Damodaramma says compensation has been delayed and that it may need to approach court.
APSRTC Operational Defense
APSRTC official M. Srinivasulu says compensation in RTC accident cases is settled through Lok Adalats.
Key facts
- On-call drivers
- About 4,000 across Andhra Pradesh
- APSRTC-owned buses
- More than 8,200
- Hired buses
- More than 2,600
- Daily passengers
- About 4.1 million
- Driver qualification
- A heavy-vehicle licence with about one-and-a-half years of vintage, followed by a basic driving test
- Reported fatality
- 70-year-old P. Damodaramma was killed near Aspari after being struck by an RTC bus
Quotes
A Kadapa depot official
An RTC depot official who allegedly responded to a report about defective bus headlights.
“First get your eyes checked. Why is this problem occurring only when you are driving?”
deccanchronicle.com
“We are now being told that we may have to approach the court to get compensation.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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