Employees’ Union Opposes Government Plan to Allot RTC Lands to LuLu Group for Mall

Quick Summary:

• Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD-APSRTC) Employees’ Union leaders requested the government to halt plans for constructing a shopping mall on APSRTC land.
• Lands in question include Governorpet 1 and 2 depots and the old bus stand,located in Vijayawada city centre.
• The lands are reportedly being allocated to LuLu Group for commercial development under G.O. No.137 issued by the government.
• Union’s leadership fears allocation would disrupt RTC operations, causing inconvenience to passengers and employees, while harming public accessibility to transportation facilities.
• APPTD union representatives met TDP State president Palla Srinivas Rao, seeking his intervention with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
• The union plans further discussions with coalition partners BJP and Jana Sena party leaders to reconsider the government’s stance on this issue.

published – August 11, 2025

Indian opinion Analysis:

The request by APSRTC Employees’ Union highlights two key concerns: practicality of land usage for essential public transport services versus its commercial exploitation for urban development purposes. Urban centers like Vijayawada demand strategic planning that prioritizes both public interests and economic expansion.

If executed without due deliberation, converting vital RTC facilities into private projects may affect commuters reliant on public transport systems-potentially disrupting accessibility in a major transit hub amid community resistance from stakeholders like employees’ unions. On one hand, this move could catalyze local economic opportunities tied to commercial real estate; however, governance challenges may arise over existing operational disruption or declining accountability when shifting away from infrastructure serving passengers directly.

Collaborative solutions between unions and ruling coalitions should logically pursue balanced resolutions ensuring minimal compromise towards either service reliability or broader developmental transformations.

read more