Kerala private bus operators have threatened an indefinite statewide strike from November 3, citing losses after the launch of the Priyadarshini scheme, rising operating costs and the need for a higher minimum fare. The proposed action could disrupt one of the state’s key public transport networks if the operators’ demands are not resolved.
The All Kerala Bus Operators Association (AKBOA), which represents nearly 7,500 of Kerala’s 10,000 currently operating private buses, announced the decision after a meeting in Kochi. The association comprises representatives from six bus owners’ associations.
“We’re facing a crisis following a sharp decline in daily revenue post the introduction of the Priyadarshini scheme in June,” T Gopinath, general secretary of AKBOA, said, according to the Times of India. The scheme provides free travel for women on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) ordinary buses.
Gopinath said private operators had suffered losses exceeding Rs 800 crore since the scheme began. He also said the number of private buses in Kerala had fallen from 35,000 a decade ago to about 10,000 today.
The operators have demanded that the free travel benefit for women be extended to private buses, with the state government directly reimbursing operators for the cost of tickets. They have also sought an increase in the minimum bus fare to Rs 15, citing higher diesel prices and operating expenses.
Other demands include revising student concession fares to 50% of the regular ticket price, reducing the government’s share of tax on fuel and providing financial assistance for bus insurance expenses. The demands place the financial sustainability of privately operated services alongside the state’s objective of expanding subsidised mobility for women.
The proposed strike comes as private buses continue to provide transport connectivity across Kerala, including on routes that may not be fully served by state-run buses. Any prolonged stoppage would therefore affect commuters who depend on private services for daily travel, education and work. The report did not specify the number of routes that could be affected or whether negotiations with the government had begun.
A separate group, the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation, plans to begin a hunger strike outside the state Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on October 27. The federation is seeking action on the same demands.
The operators’ immediate deadline is November 3, when the indefinite strike is scheduled to begin. The hunger strike planned for October 27 is the next stated mobilisation by the private bus operators’ federation.
