What was seen the other at Vyttila in Kochi is the ugly face of the travel hardships faced by Malayalis who have to travel a lot to other states for studies and lively hood.
Among the two youths, one was on his way to Bangalore to write an exam while the other one was on his way to have Guruvayur darshan on the occasion of his birthday.
They were severely beaten up by Kallada bus employees and their goons over a tiff, which started when the youths demanded alternative travel arrangement after the bus’s brake snapped.
The terror unleashed by the employees has sent shock waves among the bus travellers. This is only a small example of the highhandedness of the bus employers
There are complaints that though the bus operators charge exorbitant fare, they don’t give even minimum facilities to the travellers.
Despite this, the buses are sometimes used to transport narcotic drugs, unassembled parts of two-wheelers (to save tax), other goods and black money to Kerala from Bengaluru.
The bus owners or authorities concerned also don’t keep the official records of their past activities.
About 500 private luxury buses ply Kerala Bengaluru roads every day while a far less number of KSRTC buses are in service here. This had led to the dominance of private buses in this route.
The government should take urgent steps to strengthen the KSRTC services in this route. Along with that, the private buses should be made to function within the frame of law.
Under the current circumstances, it is not practical to cut private services completely.
Transport Minister A K Saseendran had announced that 24-hr squads will be formed to control long-distance bus services.
The present issue can be solved if the existing laws are properly implemented. Whatever it is, none of the bus employees should be allowed to take law into their own hands.