TGSRTC reassigns 6.5-ft conductor Ameen Ansari after height-related hardship
Synopsis
A 6.5-foot TGSRTC conductor who couldn't stand upright inside his own bus has been given a permanent alternate role — after the Transport Minister personally flagged his case to the Chief Minister. Ansari's story, rooted in a compassionate appointment after his father's death, has struck a chord with thousands online as a rare example of institutional empathy.
Key Takeaways
Ameen Ahmed Ansari , a 198 cm (6.5 feet) tall conductor at TGSRTC's Mehdipatnam depot , was unable to work inside buses with a maximum height of 6.4 feet .
Chronic neck and back pain from constant bending during 10-hour shifts with at least 5 trips daily prompted his request for reassignment.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar escalated the case to Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy , leading to a one-year out-of-designation arrangement.
That arrangement ended on 28 April 2026 ; TGSRTC has now issued a fresh order deploying Ansari at a bus pass section or Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) .
Ansari was originally appointed on compassionate grounds in 2021 after his father, a conductor at Kachiguda depot , died that year.
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has reassigned bus conductor Ameen Ahmed Ansari, who stands 198 cm (6.5 feet) tall, to alternate duties after his exceptional height made it physically impossible to work inside standard buses. Ansari, posted at the Mehdipatnam depot in Hyderabad, had long struggled with the confined headroom of TGSRTC buses, which max out at 6.4 feet — a full inch shorter than him.
The Daily Ordeal
Working a 10-hour shift with a minimum of five trips daily, Ansari was forced to constantly bend while moving through the bus to issue tickets. The prolonged strain led to chronic neck and back pain, rendering him unable to carry out his duties effectively. The limited headroom left him with no safe way to operate within the bus, making every shift a physical ordeal.
How the Case Reached the Chief Minister
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar brought Ansari's situation to the attention of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, recommending that suitable alternate duties be arranged within TGSRTC. Acting on that intervention, the corporation initially granted Ansari out-of-designation duty for a period of one year. That temporary arrangement came to an end on 28 April 2026.
The New Order
Following the expiry of the one-year period, TGSRTC has now issued a fresh order permitting Ansari to be deployed at any TGSRTC bus pass section or at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), based on operational requirements. The arrangement has been designated as out-of-designation duty, giving the corporation flexibility in placing him where his services are best utilised.
A Personal Story Behind the Posting
Ansari's employment with TGSRTC carries a deeper context. He was appointed on compassionate grounds after his father — a conductor at the Kachiguda depot — passed away in 2021. His reassignment has been widely welcomed online, with netizens praising TGSRTC's humane approach to an employee facing a genuinely unique occupational challenge. The corporation's decision reflects a broader responsibility toward employees whose physical circumstances fall outside standard operational parameters. How this case is handled could set a precedent for similar situations within state transport bodies across India.
Point of View
But it also exposes a gap in how public sector transport bodies handle ergonomic mismatches at the recruitment stage. Ansari's case was resolved only because a minister personally intervened — without that, he may have continued suffering in silence. State RTCs across India routinely hire on compassionate grounds without assessing whether the designated role is physically viable for the appointee. A standardised ergonomic review at onboarding would prevent such situations from becoming years-long ordeals requiring political escalation.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was TGSRTC conductor Ameen Ahmed Ansari reassigned?
Ameen Ahmed Ansari was reassigned because his height of 198 cm (6.5 feet) exceeded the maximum interior height of TGSRTC buses, which is 6.4 feet. The constant bending during his 10-hour shifts caused chronic neck and back pain, making it impossible for him to continue as a bus conductor.
What alternate duty has TGSRTC assigned to Ansari?
TGSRTC has ordered that Ansari be deployed at any TGSRTC bus pass section or at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on out-of-designation duty, based on the corporation's operational requirements.
How did the case reach Chief Minister Revanth Reddy?
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar brought Ansari's situation directly to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's notice and recommended suitable alternate duties within TGSRTC. The CM's intervention led to the initial one-year out-of-designation arrangement.
Why was Ansari originally appointed to TGSRTC?
Ansari was appointed on compassionate grounds after his father, who served as a conductor at TGSRTC's Kachiguda depot, passed away in 2021. Compassionate appointments are a common provision in public sector bodies to support families of deceased employees.
What happened when Ansari's one-year alternate duty period ended?
The initial one-year out-of-designation duty period ended on 28 April 2026. Following this, TGSRTC issued a fresh order granting continued alternate deployment at a bus pass section or RGIA, providing Ansari with a longer-term solution.
