Talks with government fail; private bus strike in state tomorrow

PALAKKAD: Private buses across the state will go on strike tomorrow following the failure of talks between the Joint Committee of Bus Owners and the Transport Department. The committee has warned that if their demands are not met, they will suspend services indefinitely starting from July 22.

"Fifteen years ago, there were about 32,000 private buses operating in the state. Today, that number has dropped to just 8,000. Reports indicate that many operators are selling their buses at throwaway prices and exiting the industry due to mounting financial losses. Even those who buy new buses using loans are uncertain if they will be able to recover their investments," the committee said.

Bus owners say impractical regulations imposed by the Transport Department — such as mandatory speed governors, GPS installation, and police clearances for staff — are adding to their difficulties. The widespread use of electric scooters and cars has further reduced the number of passengers. One of their long-standing demands — to raise the student minimum fare from Rs 1 to Rs 5 — has not been addressed.

Bus owners also allege that limited-stop and long-distance route permits are being handed over to KSRTC, which has negatively impacted their business. During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, around 4,000 private buses stopped services. Many operators whose buses have reached the end of their service life have sold them for scrap and switched to other professions. Most of them only owned one or two buses.