Free rides for men, but not students; private bus takes aim at Priyadarshini scheme

ANGAMALY: In a novel protest against the state government’s Priyadarshini scheme, a private bus operating on the Angamaly-Koratty route is offering free travel to all male passengers today, except students and those from other states.
The bus, ‘Best Way’, is offering the free service as part of a protest by private bus operators against the scheme. Private bus owners will also stage a protest dharna at Angamaly Town Junction today.

Bus operators said private buses on the Angamaly route are facing a severe crisis due to the Priyadarshini scheme, which provides free travel to women on KSRTC buses. They said their earnings have fallen to such an extent that they are unable to pay workers’ wages or even meet their diesel expenses.

The bus owners said the decision to allow free travel for men on the Best Way bus was taken as a symbolic protest on behalf of other private buses operating on the route.