Private Bus operators stage a protest in front of the Secretariat raising several demands on October 14. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
A section of private bus operators in Kerala have announced a State-level indefinite strike from November 3, citing the crisis in the sector due to ‘fall in daily revenue’ after the introduction in June of Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women in KSRTC buses.
The strike was announced on Friday (October 16), after a meeting of the Kerala Bus Transport Association (KBTA) that was held here to discuss the problems facing the sector and the subsequent fall in the number of private buses in the State from 35,000 a decade ago to about 10,000 now.
They demanded that free travel for women be extended to private buses as well, and that the government reimburse bus operators for their ticket fares.
The other demands include fare revision, considering the frequent hike in diesel rates, and relaxation in the government’s share of tax from the fuel rate for private buses. The bus operators have also demanded that the government bear the insurance expense of buses.
Published - October 16, 2026 04:46 pm IST