Rapido Ad defames public transport, regardless of AP no. plate: TSRTC MD Sajjanar

Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) Managing Director VC Sajjanar has confirmed to send a legal notice to Tollywood actor Allu Arjun and bike-taxi app, `Rapido', for reportedly tarnishing the image of the state-run public transportation company in their latest advertisment.

In an advertisement aired on YouTube, the actor is seen playing the role of roadside dosa seller. He allegedly tried to make fun of the state-run public transportation company. The advertisement has not gone down well with the RTC commuters, employees, and admirers.

Following the ad, the TSRTC Chief in a statement on Tuesday, said "The advertisement has drawn flak from its commuters and employees, including retired employees. It said they are condemning the "negative manner" in which its buses have been shown in comparison to Rapido service. Demeaning TSRTC will neither be tolerated by the TSRTC management nor by the commuters, admirers, and our own and retired employees," TSRTC said.

In contrary, Many including the actor's fans however questioned TSRTC saying that the advertisement projected an AP bus plate, then how could TSRTC issue a legal notice. "The number plate of AP and the actor is seen speaking in a non Telangana accent in the Ad.What authority does TSRTC have to issue a number plate when the bus shown in the Ad is of Andhra Pradesh" many questioned on social media.

When NewsMeter approached the MD, he explained "It is a TSRTC bus, it was taken on hire from Telangana Depot, the Ad was shot at Annapurna studios. Even though the number plate is of AP, citizens have to understand that the public transport has been shown in a bad light. Whether AP issues a notice or not, we have the authority to send them a legal notice for demeaning the public Transport Corporation as a whole. It is a TSRTC bus shown in the ad and overall, it is a public transport that has been defamed," VC Sajjanar told NewsMeter

He further mentioned that the legal notice has been issued to the firm promoting the advertisement and the actor.Mr. Sajjanar said actors should instead act in advertisements that promote public transport for a better and environmentally cleaner society. He also said that TSRTC was in the service of the common man and it will send legal notice to the actor and to the firm that is promoting the advertisement.

TSRTC has already registered cases against those putting up stickers and pamphlets in buses and bus stations and also against those who are spitting pan, gutkha in buses and outside.

Further, the MD requested all actors, celebrities, and eminent personalities who are in a position to influence public opinion to desist from promoting content that is detrimental to public transportation and the public good.