Government steps in; new revenue opportunities unlocked for private bus operators

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government has announced that private buses will now be permitted to display advertisements both inside and outside their vehicles, a move aimed at helping operators overcome financial losses. Transport Minister CP John confirmed the decision, noting that this initiative will provide private bus owners with a necessary source of non-ticketing revenue.

This policy shift comes amidst reports that many private bus operators have been struggling financially and discontinuing services following the implementation of the KSRTC’s ‘Priyadarshini’ free travel scheme. While the state-run KSRTC has long been permitted to display advertisements on its buses, this marks the first time such an allowance has been extended to the private sector. The move has been welcomed by private bus owners, who have been seeking government intervention to address their deepening operational challenges.

Minister John also emphasised the government’s commitment to implementing a comprehensive transport policy to address the concerns raised by private operators. To this end, the government has constituted a committee to examine the impact of the Priyadarshini scheme on the private transport sector and to identify the specific areas where stakeholders are facing distress. The committee, chaired by B. Padmakumar with Dr. Sreedevi serving as vice-chairperson, has been tasked with studying these issues and is expected to submit a report within 45 days.