Employees’ union urges govt. to drop move to allot RTC lands to LuLu Group for building shopping mall

Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD-APSRTC) Employees’ Union leaders on Sunday (August 10, 2025) urged the government to drop its proposal to construct a shopping mall in the lands belonging to the APSRTC.

In a representation to TDP State president Palla Srinivas Rao at the party office, the leaders said handing over the land of Governorpet 1 and 2 depots and the old bus stand, located in the heart of the city, to the LuLu Group for construction of a shopping mall would defame the ruling government.

They urged the TDP leader to take the matter to the notice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Later, in a statement, the union’s State president P. Damodar Rao and general secretary G.V. Narasayya said Governorpet 1 and 2 depots and the old bus stand lands were crucial for RTC operations.

Allocating the land for private commercial projects would cause severe inconvenience to both passengers and the APSRTC employees. They reiterated that in the interest of the corporation’s future, the government should reconsider its decision.

The union leaders said they would soon meet leaders of the coalition partners, State BJP president P.V.N. Madhav and Jana Sena Party president K. Pawan Kalyan, to request that the government take a relook at its decision on the issue.

They said if the RTC land was handed over to private individuals, it would alienate RTC from the public and tarnish the image of the government. They said the coalition partners should revisit their stand and revoke G.O. No. 137 issued in this regard.