Telangana hikes DA, TGSRTC employees get relief
Telangana hikes RTC DA, arrears paid in installments
Hyderabad Cheers as TGSRTC Workers Get 2.1% DA Boost: A Timely Diwali for Drivers
Hyderabad: In a move that’s got RTC depots buzzing from Secunderabad to Suryapet, the Telangana government on Friday, April 10, rolled out a 2.1 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees. Effective retroactively from January 1, 2026, it bumps DA from 50.7% to 52.8%—a small percentage, sure, but for the khaki-clad heroes steering our pothole-dodging buses, it’s a big relief amid skyrocketing veggies and fuel.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar broke the good news himself, his voice carrying that familiar warmth over the podium. “This is our commitment to the wheels that keep Telangana moving,” he said. Picture it: drivers who’ve braved monsoons, festival rushes, and endless honks now seeing a bit extra in their pay slips. The catch? It piles an extra Rs 2.82 crore monthly on TGSRTC’s plate—a hefty tab, but one the state’s footing with grit.
Arrears from January? No sweat—they’re dished out via supplementary bills over three months, one chunk per month. It’s thoughtful, easing the corporation’s cash crunch while putting money in pockets pronto. Flash back to July 2025: the last 2.1% jump took DA from 48.6% to 50.7%. With RPS-2017 locked in since May 2024, no dusty dues linger—clean slate, forward march.
Prabhakar didn’t stop at announcements. He huddled with regional managers, grilling them on pending fixes—think busted ACs on Volvo routes or overdue fleet overhauls. “Expedite, expedite!” he urged, that no-nonsense Congress fire lighting up the room. TGSRTC MD V Nagi Reddy chimed in, nodding to employees’ long wait: “They’ve earned this, keeping buses rolling through thick and thin.”
For Hyderabad folks like us—grabbing a quick idli at Paradise before the 65G to Kukatpally—this hits home. RTC isn’t just transport; it’s the lifeline for daily wagers, students cramming for exams, and aunties hauling groceries. Inflation’s bitten hard—onions at Rs 80/kg, petrol teasing Rs 110—making DA hikes feel like a hug from Revanth Reddy’s government. That Rs 2.82 crore monthly? It’s chump change against TGSRTC’s Rs 8,000 crore turnover, but it screams priorities: people over politics.
Workers erupted in quiet cheers at Charminar depot, WhatsApp groups lighting up with “Finally!” memes. One veteran driver, anon over chai, shared: “I’ve driven 20 years, dodging cows and VIPs. This’ll cover my kid’s tuition.” It’s human stories like these that turn stats into smiles.
Yet, challenges loom. TGSRTC’s eyeing green buses and digital tickets amid losses from free rides schemes. Prabhakar’s push for quick fixes hints at bigger plans—maybe electrification or route tweaks for Hyderabad’s exploding suburbs. With global storms like Hormuz oil jitters pushing prices up, this DA shield feels timely.
As April sun dips over Hussain Sagar, Telangana’s RTC family breathes easier. From Ponnam’s steady hand to Nagireddy’s nod, it’s a win for the unsung. Next stop? More hikes, fancier fleets? For now, here’s to the drivers—our road warriors, one DA bump at a time.