Vijayawada, May 18 -- The National Mazdoor Union on Monday staged a protest near the Old Bus Stand in Vijayawada opposing the phased privatisation of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).

Union leaders demanded that the government immediately withdraw its attempts to privatise the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) sector.

National Mazdoor Union State Vice President Srinivasa Raju said that they are not opposing the introduction of electric buses. "However, handing over their operations and maintenance to private individuals would amount to privatisation of RTC," he alleged. He demanded that APSRTC itself should operate and manage the electric buses.

Raju stated that RTC garages have now reached a stage where buse...