Hyderabad: The indefinite strike of the RTC starting on Tuesday night is expected to hit students taking exams in universities and vacationers. About 90 lakh passengers in Telangana and 64 lakh passengers who travel by RTC every day will be impacted by the strike.

In some centres like Warangal, long distances buses had gone off the road by Tuesday evening.

The RTC will hire temporary drivers and conductors to maintain services. Officials are in talks with private bus operators and SCR to increase the number of services and coaches.

RTC unions said their talks for 43 per cent pay hike (fitment) with RTC officials had failed on Tuesday. After two rounds of failed talks with the employee unions, RTC MD N. Sambasiva Rao met Telangana transport minister Mahender Reddy. The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet sub-committee meeting with RTC unions failed as well.

Mr Mahendar Reddy said that corporation was losing Rs 4,000 crore but employees were not ready to discuss issues. “We asked them to postpone their strike. If 43 per cent fitment is given to them, the burden on people will be too much.

We want to save RTC and we are appealing to the unions to reconsider the strike,” he said. Mr Sambasiva Rao said the corporation was ready to give a 22-per cent fitment.