After a series of strokes requiring fare revision over the last decade and a half, private buses operators in Kerala no longer look for minimal fare revisions, not because the private bus industry is profitable, but because of the reduction patronage between passengers while bus. The timeline of fare revisions and a decrease in the number of bus passengers over the past 15 years have been a bleak picture of the private bus industry.
In 2010, the minimum fare was 4 GBP, which was later revised six times, while the last revision in 2022 was determined by the minimum fare for 10 ₹. Meanwhile, the average passenger rider will drop to 600-650 out of about 1,300 a day. The number of buses also fell from approximately 32,000 in 2010 to only 8,200. Hamsa Erikkunnan, chairwoman of the mixed committee for bus owners, said the private bus strike carried out on Tuesday did not require any fare revision, although many media houses incorrectly.
The fact is that private bus owners face a shrinking rider, which did not bring them in a position to look for another fare revision. There is already a large decrease in the number of passengers relying on private buses for everyday commuting after Covid-19. Another revision of the minimum fare will be a deadly button for the sick industry, with most of the remaining passengers moving to an alternative transport method, said Mr. Erikkunnan.
The average daily rider in a regular bus is now 600-650 passengers, while the number would be around 200-250 in buses with a long distance stop. Approximately fifty percent of travelers include students and workforce of migrants and the rest is the local population, especially women and older. Migrants have already begun to report other means of transport and minimal fare revisions would speed up the shrinking sponsorship for bus riding between existing many passengers, the officials of various private bus organizations said.
“We are now looking for only the revision of students’ tariffs in accordance with the time. Currently, an average private bus with a six -cylinder engine and a operation of 250 km distances requires approximately 13,000 ₹ in operation daily, including tax and insurance. Save the flabby wealth of this sector;
The private bus industry in Kerala also mainly involves local labor, says experts. The recent Directive, which insists on the police check -in certificate for employees every six months – although there is no such urge for lakh migrating workers who work in different sectors in Kerala – have increased the suffering in this industry, experts said.
Published – 9 July 2025 17:44
