AP Cabinet delivers major relief to employees

Enhancement of the retirement age from 60 to 62 years for employees working in public sector undertakings Quarterly tax on All India Tourist Permit (AITP) buses has been reduced from Rs 4,000 to Rs 2,500 per seat

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Tuesday took a series of significant decisions benefiting government employees, public sector staff and the tourism industry. The decisions are expected to impact nearly 30,000 employees across various government-supported institutions and provide long-awaited relief to thousands of workers.

One of the most important decisions was the enhancement of the retirement age from 60 to 62 years for employees working in public sector undertakings, residential educational institutions and government-supported societies. The move is expected to benefit around 30,000 employees and help retain experienced personnel in public service.

In another major decision, the Cabinet approved the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for nearly 11,000 employees who were recruited through notifications issued before 2004, in accordance with Memo No. 57. The issue had remained unresolved for several years and was one of the key demands raised by employee associations. The Cabinet also provided clarity on family pension and veteran CPS contributions, addressing concerns pending since 2017.

The AP Secretariat CPS Association welcomed the decision, stating that thousands of employees would now receive long-awaited pension benefits. APNGO Association President Vidyasagar described the Cabinet decision as the fulfilment of a long-standing dream of employees and thanked Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nara Lokesh for resolving the issue.

During the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister also reviewed governance and development priorities. He called upon ministers to strengthen coordination across departments and remain vigilant against attempts to create social divisions. Chandrababu emphasized that all ministers should collectively defend the unity of the NDA coalition and effectively communicate government initiatives to the public.

The Cabinet also approved a major concession for the tourism and transport sectors. Quarterly tax on All India Tourist Permit (AITP) buses has been reduced from Rs 4,000 to Rs 2,500 per seat. The decision, taken following requests from vehicle operators and the initiative of Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, is expected to reduce operational costs and encourage bus operators who had shifted registrations to neighbouring states to return to Andhra Pradesh.

The government believes the tax reduction will stimulate tourism, improve transport sector competitiveness and ultimately increase state revenues through higher vehicle registrations and enhanced regulatory oversight. Minister Ramprasad Reddy hailed the move as a strong example of the coalition government’s commitment to supporting industry while ensuring passenger safety and service quality.