Protest over KSRTC barricade in East Fort; Private buses off roads in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Private buses halted services in the capital city in protests over the traffic reforms introduced at the busy East Fort bus station. The KSRTC barricade erected on PWD Road has incensed scores of private bus owners and staff who protested vehemently on the road. Tightened security was assigned in the area following the protest. As per reports, the protestors were cleared off the road by police.

"We got the permit here in 1993. Since then, both KSRTC buses and private ones used to have a stop here. In 2016, they put up a barricade. With this, the number of accidents and deaths increased. After this, the collector and others decided to demolish the barricade. The barricade was thus moved. After two months, the barricade is back again at the same place. Earlier, there was space for people to alight from the bus and safely move across the road. It is not the same case now.

KSRTC were given a title deed in 2008. The deed was done for the wasteland that was not privately owned. When accidents started recurring in this region, there was even an order demanding that all KSRTC buses be moved to the depot. All the RTI documents were given to the collector and others. Still, we want to know on whose order this modification was made,” - Private bus owners said.

Meanwhile, KSRTC bus staff said that the property, which was being paid tax by KSRTC, is not open for private buses.