THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC suffers a loss of Rs 60 lakh daily as the private buses are conducting services through super class routes. About 300 private buses are servicing through these routes. The longest of these is between Pala and Vellarikkund in Kasargod, which is 396 km long.
These services are silently approved by some KSRTC officials themselves. These private bus owners are backed by some political parties as well. Though their licences are being cancelled by some RTOs, they usually get the permit back with the help of some political leaders.

Some private buses are conducting services with the help of redBus reservation service.

Supreme Court had granted super class rights to KSRTC in 2015.
When super class facility was lost for private buses, they were not allowed to conduct services longer than 140 km. UDF government had given support to the private bus owners.

LDF government had shortened the running time of private buses to 1 minute 45 seconds in 2018 January while KSRTC run-time is 2 minutes. This has also benefitted the private buses.