Private bus owners to go on strike on Oct 31; will go on indefinite strike from Nov 21 onwards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The joint committee of private bus owners will go on strike on October 31 to protest against the non-revision of student concession in tune with the revised bus fares. Committee Chairman Lawrence Babu and General Convener T Gopinathan said in a press conference that the bus owners will go on an indefinite strike from November 21 if the government does not take favourable action.

Student fare should be increased to Rs 5. The Dr Raviraman committee appointed by the government has not submitted its report even after a year. The Justice Ramachandran Committee had also recommended a revision of student fares. The government's direction that drivers should wear seat belts and that surveillance cameras should be installed in buses will create financial liability. The government is unilaterally imposing the decision, the committee office-bearers said. The government should also abandon the move to curtail the permit of private buses that run more than 140 km. The committee also complained that the government's decision to allow free travel for children from very poor families in private buses from November 1 was being implemented without consultation.