Bus Strike | ‘Transport Minister says stuck’; Bus owners say private bus strike will continue

Palakkad: Private bus owners say bus strike will continue in the state. The bus owners’ association said it would not back down from the strike without raising fares. The bus owners have criticized the government for not even preparing for a discussion even after so many days of the strike. The bus operators’ organization also asked at a press conference whether the transport minister, who said students were inconvenienced during exams, was being allowed free travel on KSRTC. The strike was called by the Transport Minister. The LDF has decided to increase the rates. The bus operators’ organization also criticized the transport minister for not complying with a promise to increase fares soon.

The bus owners are demanding a minimum fare of Rs 12, a hike of Rs 10 per kilometer and a fare of Rs 6 for students. Private bus owners have protested against the non-implementation of the expert committee’s recommendation to waive the Kovid-era vehicle tax. The transport department had planned to increase the minimum fare to Rs 10 in November itself, but no announcement was made. Despite hints of a change considering Ramachandran Nair’s recommendation, the decision on when has been delayed.

As a result of the strike, people are stranded in many places without getting a bus on time. Travel difficulties have been exacerbated in Central Kerala, the Malabar region and the countryside. The strike has also affected students as the annual exams for classes one to nine have started. According to government sources, the decision on the hike will be taken only after the LDF meeting on May 30.

Also Read- Silverline | Silver Line Project: Who is laying the foundation stone? Revenue Department or K Rail? The ambiguity continues

The government is being deterred by the assessment that the bus fare hike will be a double blow to the common man amid rising prices. However, it was the Transport Minister who revived the talks, signaling that the concession rate would be increased. At the same time, former minister Antony Raju said that the government should not go ahead with a strike that puts pressure on it. If the bus and auto taxi strike goes ahead, KSRTC will run more services. The increase in charges was approved by the government. There is a debate going on as to when and how it should be done. He also said that the government should not be pressured by the strike at this time.

Published by:Rajesh V

First published:March 26, 2022, 5:13 PM IST

Read the most reliable news, live information, world, national, Bollywood, sports, business, health and lifestyle news on News18 Malayalam website.