Private bus operators in Kerala reject the recommendations of expert panels and warn of a strike

The demand for revision of bus fares and the demand to increase the student benefit, which was fixed 15 years ago, were not considered by the committee by the private bus operators. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

A meeting of the All Kerala Bus Operators Organization held on Thursday (September 3, 2026) marked a report submitted by an expert panel constituted by the state government to reduce the impact of the Priyadarshini free ride scheme on the private bus sector as unable to address their concerns.

The operators are demanding zero fares for women, similar to the system implemented in regular Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses as well as private buses. Furthermore, the expert committee did not deal with the subsidy on diesel, which was requested by private bus operators, the meeting stated.

The demand for revision of bus fares and the demand to increase the student benefit, which was fixed 15 years ago, were not considered by the committee by the private bus operators. On the other hand, the decision to grant industrial status to the private bus sector, increase the lifespan of buses from 22 to 25 years and the proposal to provide insurance cover for stage transporters through the state insurance department are good steps, the meeting said.

However, the private bus industry cannot sustain itself for long. Private bus operators will be forced to withdraw all their vehicles from the road if their urgent demands for zero tickets for women, fare revision and diesel subsidy along with their other demands are not met by the state government, private bus operators have warned.

The meeting also decided to take a final decision on the future plans of the strike at the state committee meeting of the organization to be held on September 8 in Palakkad. The expert committee, headed by former transport commissioner and ex-IPS officer K. Padmakumar, submitted its report to Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday and recommended several measures to address the concerns of private bus operators.

These include, among others, a recommendation that the state hire private buses on charter basis with crew to ply on selected routes at fixed rates set by the KSRTC.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 20:10 IST