Faced with mounting financial losses and surging operational costs, the Private Bus Operators Association has warned that private bus services in Kerala cannot continue operations without an immediate fare revision.
The association has firmly rejected the recommendations of the Justice Padmakumar Committee report, arguing that it fails to adequately reflect the ground realities of diesel price hikes, vehicle maintenance costs, and statutory taxes.
A primary demand raised by the bus operators is an upward revision in the minimum student concession fare to Rs 5. The association leaders noted that while passenger footfalls have fluctuated, carrying students at outdated concession rates has severely undermined the viability of the private passenger transport sector.
The leadership announced that unless the Transport Department convenes urgent discussions to arrive at an amicable resolution, operators across the state will be forced to launch an indefinite strike in the coming weeks.
