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New Delhi: In an unusual incident that has come to light from Telangana, a bus conductor was reassigned alternative duties by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) because his exceptionally tall height made it difficult for him to perform regular tasks inside the buses.

Official order issued

Conductor Ameen Ahmed Ansari, attached to the Mehdipatnam depot, was allowed to continue working under Out of Designation (OD) duty. On May 5, an official order was issued from the corporation’s headquarters at Bus Bhavan in Mushirabad, Hyderabad, to this effect.

Reports said that Ansari is 198 centimetres (6 feet 6 inches) tall. Earlier, he had been put on OD duty for a year after it was found that he was unable to carry out his regular work inside RTC buses in a comfortable manner.

Conductors are required to move through narrow aisles and function in spaces with limited headroom. These proved physically challenging for Ansari.

Faced physical challenges

On April 28, Ansari’s initial OD duty period got over. But he didn’t get an immediate extension. Ansari went back to his regular role as a bus conductor. During this time, he suffered intense neck and back pain. His pain arose because he was forced to bend his neck constantly while doing his job inside the buses.

When the corporation was informed, it paid heed to his physical problems and the challenges he was facing due to being exceptionally tall. He was reassigned OD duty immediately.

Under the new order, his services may be utilised in roles more suited to his physical comfort, like in Bus Pass Sections or at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, based on operational needs.

Move triggers online discussion

The corporation’s move has sparked discussions online over workplace adaptability and employee welfare. Some pointed out how job roles, especially in public transport, are often designed around standard physical assumptions that may not suit everyone.

Several people commended the decision to reassign OD duty to Ansari, and said it was a practical example of accommodating employee needs without compromising on productivity.