Hyderabad: CPI-M has asked the Telangana government to pressure the Centre to revise the current electric bus policy, calling it unfair to public transport corporations and heavily tilted towards private players.
In a letter to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, CPI-M state secretary John Wesley alleged that the BJP-led Centre was using the policy to hand over bus operations to corporate firms. He stated that while private companies were receiving subsidies worth thousands of crores, state RTCs were being forced to build the infrastructure.
Wesley further warned that valuable RTC lands were being tied up with private firms. In addition, he said the Centre was finalising tenders directly, leaving the states with little say in the process.
He also criticised the role of Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL). According to him, CESL’s policies had placed an unreasonable financial load on state transport bodies. He noted that private companies were hiring drivers and staff directly, bypassing RTC recruitment. As a result, unemployed youth from weaker sections were losing fair job opportunities.
Wesley said Telangana’s plan to convert 2,800 RTC buses immediately and 9,800 by 2030 into electric ones would limit the state’s flexibility. He warned this could increase the RTC’s financial burden and reduce control over future procurement.
He also objected to rising passenger fares. Electric bus users were paying ₹10 to ₹20 more, while fares for other services had increased by ₹5 to ₹10. He called this an unjust burden on the public.
Finally, Wesley urged the state to firmly oppose the policy and demand changes that protect both the RTC and commuters.