On April 22, 2023, employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) began a strike across Telangana, India, to advocate for their 32 demands, which include the merger of RTC with the state government. This disruption has left 65 lakh passengers without bus services, forcing them to seek private transportation alternatives. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged employees to end the strike, noting that the government is amenable to 29 of the demands but requires time to address the more contentious issues of merger and union elections. The RTC's management, led by MD Y Nagi Reddy, indicated that financial implications necessitate a phased approach to addressing the demands. Despite government assurances, union leaders expressed frustration over perceived delays and lack of genuine engagement in negotiations. The RTC buses primarily serve rural areas, with 68% of routes dedicated to rural transport and 32% to urban areas.