Private bus operators strike begins, strike to end at midnight

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The strike called by private bus operators has started. The strike is for not increasing the fare of students and to bring changes in government's decision to make seat belts and cameras mandatory in buses. If the demands are not implemented, the officials of the joint strike committee said that they will start an indefinite strike from November 21. The strike is till midnight today.

The joint strike committee of private buses had submitted a memorandum to the transport minister raising various demands. The government's directive is to install seat belts and cameras in private buses by November 1. However, Minister Antony Raju responded that it was the bus owners themselves who said they wanted the camera to prevent the bus crews from being accused in cases and to find the real criminals.

The bus owners put forward the demand that seat belt is a central law and cameras should be installed in buses. The minister had also said that the time was extended by several months when mentioned that good quality cameras were not available.