The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has appointed the son of conductor Shankar Goud as a Record Treasurer after his father died by self-immolation during the corporation’s statewide strike on April 23. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar handed over the appointment letter on Thursday.
The appointment was made following directions from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, according to the minister. The Telangana government and TGSRTC have also provided compensation to the bereaved family and extended support, he said, without specifying the compensation amount.
Goud’s death occurred during the RTC strike, placing the appointment within a wider period of uncertainty for transport employees and their families. The latest decision provides his son with a position within the state transport corporation, although the report did not disclose details of the post’s pay scale, location or joining date.
Prabhakar said TGSRTC employees across Telangana had contributed one day’s salary to support the family. The collection amounted to nearly Rs. 1 crore, according to the minister. The contribution reflects an employee-led support mechanism alongside the government and corporation’s assistance.
The minister also linked the corporation’s current operational measures to rising passenger demand following the implementation of the free bus travel scheme for women. TGSRTC is deploying additional buses to meet that demand, he said.
The scheme has increased pressure on the state bus network to maintain adequate capacity while continuing regular services. The report did not provide figures for the number of additional buses being deployed, the routes affected or the increase in passenger numbers.
Prabhakar said steps were also being taken to procure new buses and modernise bus stations. The measures are intended to improve passenger convenience, but the report did not specify the number of buses to be purchased, the stations covered or the implementation schedule.
The appointment letter was handed over at a time when TGSRTC is addressing both employee welfare and service demand. The immediate next steps identified by the minister are the deployment of additional buses, procurement of new vehicles and modernisation of bus stations across the network.
